The effect of Pr on the superconductivity in (PrxY1-x)Ba2Cu4O8 were st
udied and compared with that in (PrxY1-x)Ba2Cu3O7. Transition temperat
ures of the (PrxY1-x)Ba2Cu4O8 compounds decrease with increasing Pr co
ntent x, although the rate of decrease is slower than that of (PrxY1-x
)Ba2Cu3O7. Thus the Pr has a weaker effect to the superconductivity su
ppression in (PrxY1-x)Ba2Cu4O8 than in (PrxY1-x)Ba2Cu3O7. From the ana
lysis of X-ray absorption spectra(XAS) near O K-edge in (PrxY1-x)Ba2Cu
4O8 and in (PrxY1-x)Ba2Cu3O7, the effect of Pr substitution on the O 2
p electronic state is found to be weaker for (PrxY1-x)Ba2Cu4O8, which
is parallel to the effect on superconductivity. These results were wel
l explained with tile hole localization model based on the hybridizati
on of Pr 4f and O 2p orbitals.