Thermoelectric properties of Au-based metallic glass at low temperatures

Thermoelectric properties of Au$_{49}$Cu$_{26.9}$Ag$_{5.5}$Pd$_{2.3}$Si$_{16.3}$ glassy alloy have been studied using electrical resistivity, thermal conductivity and Seebeck coefficient measurements over temperature range $2$–$390$ K. At heating, resistivity $\rho$ decreases in a power-law manner from residual value $\rho_0\sim150\,\mu\Omega\,{\cdot}\,$cm. The temperature coefficient of resistivity, $\alpha=\rho^{-1}(\partial\rho/\partial T)$, is rather small and varies non-monotonously. Thermal conductivity $\kappa$ rises linearly at low temperatures; it exhibits a plateau-like feature and sharply increases at elevated temperatures. Seebeck coefficient $S$ increases with temperature and exhibits a characteristic “knee” feature. At elevated temperatures, $S$ increases linearly with temperature but with a different slope. It total, thermoelectric properties of Au-based glassy alloy demonstrate behaviour of a highly disordered system in a most pronounced manner.