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Investigations of Bonding in Skutterudites by Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Oystein Prytz ,
Ragnhild Saterli ,
Randi Holmestad  and
Johan Tafto
Oystein Prytz
Affiliation:
oystein.prytz@fys.uio.no, University of Oslo, Department of Physics, P.O. Box 1048 Blindern, NO-0316 Oslo, N/A, Norway
Ragnhild Saterli
Affiliation:
ragnhild.saterli@ntnu.no, NTNU, Department of Physics, NO-7491, Trondheim, N/A, Norway
Randi Holmestad
Affiliation:
randi.holmestad@ntnu.no, NTNU, Department of Physics, NO-7491, Trondheim, N/A, Norway
Johan Tafto
Affiliation:
johan.tafto@fys.uio.no, University of Oslo, Department of Physics, P.O. Box 1048 Blindern, NO-0316, Oslo, N/A, Norway
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Abstract

The local electronic structure of phosphorus in the binary skutterudites CoP3 and NiP3, and in the filled skutterudite LaFe4P12 are studied using a combination of electron energy-loss spectroscopy and ab initio calculations. Relative to CoP3 we observe a filling of phosphorus s and d states in NiP3, while for LaFe4P12 increased EELS intensity indicates more empty s and d states close to the Fermi-level.

Keywords

electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS)bondingelectronic structure
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1044: Symposium U – Thermoelectric Power Generation , 2007 , 1044-U06-22
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2008

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