On the Thermoelectricity in Uranium Intermetallics

The thermoelectric power in intermetallic compounds UNi5-xCux of the cubic AuBe5 structure type and in UX3 (X=A1, Ga, In, Si, Ge, Sn) of the cubic Cu3Au structure type has been measured between 5 and 300K. The interpretation of the thermopower in UNi5-xCux is given in terms of an s-d band model for the range 0 ≤ x < 4 and of mixed U4+/U3+ valency in the range 4 ≤ x ≤5. It is suggested that the thermopower in UX3 compounds is dominated by paramagnon scattering.