Thermoelectric properties of R{sub x}Ce{sub 1{minus}x}Pd{sub 3} (R=Y, La{sub 0.5}Y{sub 0.5}, Nd)

The intermediate valent compound CePd{sub 3} 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{sub x}Ce{sub 1{minus}x}Pd{sub 3} where R=Y, La{sub 0.5}Y{sub 0.5}, 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}{sup 2}/{rho} is observed. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}