Electronic and magnetic investigation of the filled skutterudite compound CeRu₄Sb₁₂

Abstract

We synthesized the filled skutterudite CeRu4Sb12 in single-crystal form using a molten-metal-flux technique with Sb flux. The specific heat and magnetic susceptibility of CeRu4Sb12 are well described by a logarithmic divergence or a power law in temperature indicating non-Fermi-liquid behaviour at low temperatures. The electrical resistivity is sample dependent with some specimens exhibiting non-Fermi-liquid behaviour below T~5 K in which ρ∝Tn with n~1.4. The application of magnetic fields up to H = 80 kOe does not significantly change the non-Fermi-liquid ground state.