Abstract
Raman scattering spectra of filled skutterudite RT 4 X 12 (R=La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm and Y, T=Fe, Ru and Os, and X=Sb and P) and unfilled skutterudite CoP 3 have been measured. All first-order Raman active phonons, which are due to the vibration of pnictogens, are observed. In addition, the crystal field excitations in PrRu 4 P 12 spectra and the second-order phonons including rare-earth vibrations in SmRu 4 P 12 and ROs 4 Sb 12 are also observed. The second-order phonons can be observed for the sample with the larger cage space. The peak intensity of the second-order phonons decreases with decreasing temperature and vanishes at low temperature. Such a temperature dependence suggests that the second-order phonons are thermally excited and due to independent vibrations of the rare-earth ions, that is rattler motion.
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