Thermoelectric power of bcc transition-metal alloys of the second period

Abstract
The absolute thermoelectric power of Nb-rich Zr, Mo-Nb, and Mo-rich Re alloy crystals was measured between 4.2 and 300 K. The composition of these alloys covered the entire composition range in which a continuous solid solution of bcc structure prevails. The diffusion component of the thermopower as a function of composition is generally proportional to the change of the density of states at the Fermi level with respect to composition. The curves exhibit two extrema: a minimum at 5.35 and a maximum at 6.1 valence electrons per atom. The phonon-drag component of the thermopower is positive for all the alloys and is attenuated by the addition of alloying elements to Nb. The phonon-drag component of Mo is particularly sensitive to alloy content.