The effect of light rare earth element substitution in Yb₁₄MnSb₁₁on thermoelectric properties

Abstract

The<italic>zT</italic>of Yb₁₄MnSb₁₁is improved by the introduction of a light rare earth element, RE³⁺(RE = Pr, Sm) with partially filled f-levels. The carrier concentration is reduced upon substituting RE³⁺for Yb²⁺, adding one electron to the system and improving the<italic>zT</italic>values 30–40% over that of the pristine material.