Thermoelectric properties of CeAl3 prepared by hot-press method

We present data on the heavy fermion compound CeAl3 as a potential p-type thermoelectric material at cryogenic temperatures. Samples of CeAl3 were synthesized by arc-melting, ball milling and hot pressing the nano-powder at different temperatures. Thermal conductivity (κ), Seebeck coefficient (S), electrical resistivity (ρ) and Hall coefficient (RH) of the samples were measured at temperatures ranging from 5 to 330 K. The thermoelectric properties of this compound are highly dependent on the hot-pressing (HP) temperature. The thermal conductivity increases with increase in HP temperature which is compensated by increased power factor (S2ρ−1). As a result the samples with higher HP temperatures exhibit higher ZT values. The highest ZT value of 0.016 at 55 K was observed for the sample hot-pressed at 800 °C. The Hall coefficient data reflects an increase in carrier concentration and a decrease in carrier mobility with decreasing hot pressing temperature.