Thermoelectric power and phase transitions in lanthanides under pressure up to 20 GPa

Pressure dependencies of thermopower S of rare-earth metals (Ce and Pr) in a pressure P range of 0–20 GPa and at room temperature are reported. A non-monotonic behaviour of S(P) has been established both at pressure-induced phase transitions: fcc → modified fcc → monoclinic → tetragonal lattice for Ce, and double hexagonal close packed (dhcp) → fcc → modified fcc → monoclinic for Pr. S kept a positive sign for the all high-pressure phases mentioned. Simultaneous measurements of sample contraction have revealed anomalies in the vicinity of the transitions in qualitative agreement with diffraction volumetric data published before. The S(P) dependencies were analysed on the basis of the known results of electronic structure calculation for the Ce and Pr phases. An advantage was demonstrated of the thermopower method in the study of phase transitions and electronic structure of high-pressure phases.