Physical properties of the skutterudites (Ce,La)Fe4-xNixSb12

We have explained the electrical transport experiments of the solid solution Ce_l-zLa_zFe₄Sb₁₂ with crystal electric field and Kondo effect. We also have shown that the transport and magnetic properties of the solid solutions R_yFe_4-xNi_xSb₁₂ (R = and La) are strongly depending to the charge carrier concentration. At room temperature, the thermopower is essentially due to the transition metal density of states in both the Cc and the La containing compounds. Finally, we have investigated the thermoelectric properties of the solid solution Ce_yFe_4-xNi_xSb₁₂ with y = 4/3-2×/3 for which the best thermoelectric properties were found for y ≥ 0.6 and also for CeFe₄Sb₁₂, at room temperature.