Thermoelectric properties of the half-Heusler compound (Zr,Hf)(Ni,Pd)Sn

Recent measurements of the thermoelectric transport properties of a series of the half-Heusler compound ZrNiSn are presented. These materials are known to be bandgap intermetallic compounds with relatively large Seebeck coefficients and semimetallic to semiconducting transport properties. This makes them attractive for study as potential candidates for thermoelectric applications. In this study, trends in the thermoelectric power, electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity are examined as a function of chemical substitution on the various fee sub-lattices that comprise the half-Heusler crystal structure. These results suggest that the lattice contribution to the thermal conductivity may be reduced by increasing the phonon scattering via chemical substitution. The effects of these substitutions on the overall power factor and figure-of-merit will also be discussed.