Thermoelectric properties of R(x)Ce(1-x)Pd(3) (R=Y, La0.5Y0.5, Nd)

The intermediate valent compound CePd3 has an unusually large thermoelectric power (from 100 to 300 K), which is interesting from the perspective of thermoelectric cooling devices. To optimize the thermoelectric properties, we have investigated rare-earth-substituted samples of the form R(x)Ce(1-x)Pd(3) where R=Y, La0.5Y0.5, and Nd. We have found that the intermediate valent state is highly dependent on the nature of the rare-earth dopant, and in particular to any local strains or bond distance changes. With Nd dilution, a small enhancement of the thermoelectric power factor alpha(2)/rho is observed.