Thermoelectric properties of ${\mathrm{R}}_{\mathrm{x}}$ ${\mathrm{Ce}}_{1\mathrm{-}\mathrm{x}}$ ${\mathrm{Pd}}_3$s(R=Y, ${\mathrm{La}}_{0.5}$ ${\mathrm{Y}}_{0.5}$ , Nd)

The intermediate valent compound ${\mathrm{CePd}}_3$ has an unusually large thermoelectric power (from 100 to 300 K), which is interesting from the perspective of thermoelectric cooling devices. To optimize the thermoelectric properties, we have investigated rare-earth-substituted samples of the form ${\mathrm{R}}_{\mathrm{x}}$ ${\mathrm{Ce}}_{1\mathrm{-}\mathrm{x}}$ ${\mathrm{Pd}}_3$ where R=Y, ${\mathrm{La}}_{0.5}$ ${\mathrm{Y}}_{0.5}$ , and Nd. We have found that the intermediate valent state is highly dependent on the nature of the rare-earth dopant, and in particular to any local strains or bond distance changes. With Nd dilution, a small enhancement of the thermoelectric power factor ${\mathrm{\alpha }}^2$ /ρ is observed.