Electrical and Thermal Transport Properties of the β-Pyrochlore Oxide CsW2O6

Abstract

We report the electrical resistivity, thermoelectric power, and thermal conductivity of single-crystalline and sintered samples of the 5d pyrochlore oxide CsW2O6. The electrical resistivity of the single crystal is 3 mΩ cm at 295 K and gradually increases with decreasing temperature above 215 K (Phase I). The thermoelectric power of the single-crystalline and sintered samples shows a constant value of approximately −60 µV K−1 in Phase I. These results reflect that the electron conduction by W 5d electrons in Phase I is incoherent and in the hopping regime, although a band gap does not open at the Fermi level. The thermal conductivity in Phase I of both samples is considerably low, which might be due to the rattling of Cs+ ions. In Phase II below 215 K, the electrical resistivity and the absolute value of thermoelectric power of both samples strongly increase with decreasing temperature, corresponding to a transition to a semiconducting state with a band gap open at the Fermi level, while the thermal conductivity in Phase II is smaller than that in Phase I.