Thermoelectric properties of (Zn1-xCdx)4Sb3 below room temperature

We have investigated the thermoelectric and structural properties of (Zn1-xCdx)(4)Sb-3 compounds below 300 K. The electrical resistivity in the compounds is found to increase with increasing Cd concentration and to have a lower value below the beta to alpha structural phase transition temperature. The Seebeck coefficient also increases with increasing Cd content. However, the anomaly at the transition is suppressed. The beta to alpha structural transition temperature is almost independent of the Cd content. As a result, the power factor at 300 K takes a maximum of 6 x 10(-6) Wcm(-') K-2 at a Cd content of 0.2 and the discontinuity in the thermoelectric performance at the structural transition temperature is weakened by the Cd substitution. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.