An important thermoelectric characteristic-the power factor of composite thermoelectric materials—is calculated on the basis of performed measurements of the thermopower, electric conductivity, thermal conductivity, and reference data. The investigated composites consist of intermediate-valence CeNi and YbAl₃ intermetallic systems and elementary metals, nickel and chromium. On account of the specific transport properties of a heterogeneous medium, it becomes possible to increase the value of the power factor in composites at a sufficiently low concentrations of rare-earth-element-based intermetallic compounds. The dependences of the composite-thermoelectric-material power factor on the temperature and the mass fraction of valence-instable components are obtained.

Original Russian Text © D.N. Trunov, E.S. Clementyev, 2014, published in Poverkhnost’. Rentgenovskie, Sinkhrotronnye i Neitronnye Issledovaniya, 2014, No. 1, pp. 39–43

https://doi.org/10.1134/S1027451014010182

Citation:

Trunov, D.N. & Clementyev, E.S. J. Synch. Investig. (2014) 8: 35. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1027451014010182