A filled skutterudite, La$_{ 0.5}$Rh$_4$Sb$_{ 12}$, with a lattice constant of 9.284(2) { \AA} was synthesized using a high-pressure technique. The electrical resistivity showed semiconducting behavior and the energy gap was estimated to be more than 0.08 eV. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicated temperature-independent diamagnetism, which originates from Larmor diamagnetism. The electrical properties of this compound are more similar to those of the La$_{ 0.5}$Rh$_4$As$_{ 12}$ semiconductor with an energy gap of 0.03 eV than to those of the La$_{ 0.6}$Rh$_4$P$_{ 12}$ superconductor.
Categories: cond-mat.mtrl-sci