Crystal-lattice modulation of the metal–insulator transition system PrRu4P12 studied by X-ray diffraction

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials Vol. 272-276; pp. E271 - E272
• Main Authors: Hao, L, Iwasa, K, Kuwahara, K, Kohgi, M, Saha, S.R, Sugawara, H, Aoki, Y, Sato, H, Sekine, C, Lee, C.H, Harima, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-05-2004
• Subjects: Filled skutterudite; Metal–insulator transition; Structural transformation; X-ray diffraction; Structural transformation; X-ray diffraction; 71.45.Lr; Metal–insulator transition; 71.30.+h; Filled skutterudite; 61.10.−i
• ISSN: 0304-8853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2003.12.1180

PrRu4P12 exhibits a metal–insulator phase transition at TMI=60K. In the insulating phase below TMI, X-ray superlattice reflections characterized by the wave vector q0=[1,0,0] were observed. The intensities at various reciprocal-lattice positions are reproduced by a model of modulated structure with the space group Pm3̄ in which Ru and P displacements are about 0.074% and 0.06%, respectively of the lattice constant. Thus, the transition can be interpreted as the gap formation due to the nesting of Fermi surface with 2kF=[1,0,0].