Unusual behaviors in REFe4P12 (RE : La, Pr and Nd)

The transport properties of REFe4P12 have been investigated between 0.4 and 300 K. Both Pr- and Nd-systems exhibit a clear increase in the resistivity with decreasing temperature From far above the magnetic transition tempera tures. In the same temperature range, the thermoelectric power (TEP) exhibi ts large absolute values of - 40 mu V/K for PrFe4P12 and - 15 mu V/K for Nd e(4)P(12). which is unusual for the well-localized f-electron systems. Thes e facts imply some anomalous nature of the hybridization related to the fil led skutterudite structure. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser ved.