Lattice dynamics in the FeSb[subscript 3] skutterudite

Thin films of FeSb{sub 3} were characterized by electronic transport, magnetometry, x-ray diffraction, {sup 57}Fe and {sup 121}Sb nuclear inelastic scattering, and {sup 57}Fe Moessbauer spectroscopy. Resistivity and magnetometry measurements reveal semiconducting behavior with a 16.3(4) meV band gap and an effective paramagnetic moment of 0.57(6) {mu}B, respectively. A systematic comparison of the lattice dynamics with CoSb{sub 3} and EuFe{sub 4}Sb{sub 12} reveals that the Fe{sub 4}Sb{sub 12} framework is softer than the Co{sub 4}Sb{sub 12} framework, and that the observed softening and the associated lowering of the lattice thermal conductivity in the RFe{sub 4}Sb{sub 12} filled skutterudites are not only related to the filler but also to the Fe{sub 4}Sb{sub 12} framework.