Thermal transport studies on charge density wave materials LaPt₂Si₂ and PrPt₂Si₂

We measured the thermal properties of polycrystalline samples of LaPt₂Si₂ and PrPt₂Si₂ using thermopower (S) along with thermal conductivity (κ) in the temperature range 10 K-300 K. Significant anomalies related to charge density waves (CDW) around 112 K and 88 K respectively have been observed in [Formula: see text] in both systems. Analysis of thermopower by a two band model suggests that the observations are consistent with a reduction of electron charge density. A change in slope accompanied by a drop in the value of thermal conductivity has been observed around T _CDW in case of LaPt₂Si₂. Analysis of thermal conductivity of this material suggests that the CDW mainly affects electronic contribution to thermal transport. Only a slight change of slope has been detected in temperature dependent thermal conductivity in the case of PrPt₂Si₂ around T _CDW, while its resistivity shows a clear anomaly which shows that electronic part of thermal conductivity is mainly influenced by the CDW in this case also. It is interesting to note that the lattice contribution to thermal conductivity remains unaffected by the CDWs in both materials.