Electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficient of hot-pressed YbAl3 over the temperature range 150-700 K

YbAl3 specimens were prepared using a hot-pressing technique and the Seebeck coefficient and electrical resistivity measured over the temperature range 150-700 K in order to assess their potential as thermoelectric materials. The preliminary results show that YbAl3 possesses an electrical power factor double those of the stale-of-the-art thermoelectric materials based on Bi2Te3 alloys which are employed over the range around room temperature and is a promising candidate material for thermoelectric generation using 'low-temperature' waste heat.