Local distortions about Nd in NdOs4Sb12. Issue 2 (2nd January 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Keiber, T.; Bridges, F.; Baumbach, R. E.; Maple, M. B.; Stanek, Christopher R.; Nikl, Martin; Kovács, László; Greulich‐Weber, Siegmund
• Is Part Of: Physica status solidi. Volume 10:Issue 2(2013:Feb.)
• Page Start: 250
• Page End: 253
• Publication Date: 2013-01-02
• Subjects: Solid state physics -- Congresses; Solid state physics -- Periodicals; Solid state physics; Conference proceedings; Periodicals; 530.41
• DOI: 10.1002/pssc.201200506
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1862-6351

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>We present an extended X‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) study of the NdOs₄Sb₁₂ system at the Nd and Os L_{<italic>III</italic>} edges. Nd is expected to be a "rattler" atom in this skutterudite crystal and we obtain a low Einstein temperature (61 K) as expected. However, although ultrasonic measurements have suggested a large off‐center displacement of Nd, the EXAFS data are inconsistent with such a model. An analysis of the first two Os‐Sb peaks in the Os L_{<italic>III</italic>} data also shows no evidence for unusual disorder.</p> <p>In contrast the Nd‐Os peak in the Nd L_{<italic>III</italic>} data and the Os‐Os peak in the Os L_{<italic>III</italic>} data both show significant disorder at 4 K, with the largest disorder found for the Nd‐Os pair. This suggests that a distortion of the structure that involves mainly the Os atoms is present; it is likely that this distortion ‐ which may also be dynamic ‐ also causes the anomalies in the ultrasonic data (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &amp; Co. KGaA, Weinheim)</p> </abstract>