High-pressure synthesis of the filled skutterudite PrFe 4Sb 12

Abstract

We have succeeded in synthesizing the filled skutterudite PrFe 4Sb 12 crystals at high pressures and temperatures. To investigate bulk properties, we measured the magnetic susceptibility down to 2 K and electrical resistivity down to 0.7 K. The magnetic susceptibility exhibits a broad maximum around 10 K and follows the Curie Weiss law above ∼ 150 K with the effective magnetic moment of 4.5 μ B / f . u . The electrical resistivity increases with increasing temperature up to room temperature exhibiting tendencies to saturation at around 10 and 100 K. The relatively large residual resistivity ratio of ∼ 24 suggests high quality of the grown sample.