Thermoelectric properties of rare-earth alloys

The electrical resistivity, thermal conductivity, and thermopower have been measured for a large number of newly synthesized metallic compounds and alloys of simple, transition, and rare-earth elements. The maximum room-temperature values of the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT for the presented systems are about 7%. The temperature dependences of the resistivity and thermoelectric power have been discussed. Particular attention has been given to possible manifestations of the Kondo effect and intermediate valence including those in systems based on silicides and nickelides of cerium.