Abstract:
Seebeck coefficient has been studied on the single crystals of metallic hexaborides $R$B$_6$ ($R$ = La, Pr, Nd, Gd) at temperatures of 2–300 K. The experiment has shown that the signal is limited by the values $|S|\le$ 1.5 $\mu$V/K for all tested materials. The data obtained for the systems LaB$_6$ and GdB$_6$ were approximated by phonon drag contribution caused by quasi-local (Einstein) mode with characteristic temperatures $\Theta_E$(LaB$_6$) $\approx$ 240 K and $\Theta_E$(GdB$_6$) $\approx$ 180 K. On the contrary, the crystal-line electric field effect induces the inversion between negative and positive types of thermoelectricity, which complicates the simulation of phonon drag in the case of PrB$_6$ and NdB$_6$.
This work was supported by the programs of Russian Academy of Sciences “Electron spin resonance, spin-dependent electronic effects, and spin technologies” and “Condensed matter physics and materials of new generation” and by Russian Foundation for Basic Research project 20-02-00015.
Citation:
M. Anisimov, N. Samarin, S. Demishev, A. Bogach, V. Voronov, N. Shitsevalova, A. Levchenko, V. Philippov, V. Glushkov, “Thermoelectric properties of metallic hexaborides $R$B$_6$ ($R$ = La, Pr, Nd, Gd)”, Fizika Tverdogo Tela, 63:3 (2021), 344; Phys. Solid State, 63:3 (2021), 414–419