Half-Heusler phases as prospective p-type thermoelectric materials

It is well known that most of the half-Heuslers with potential thermoelectric properties are n-type due to electron domination in the transport. However, p-type half-Heusler alloys can be prepared by appropriate combination of elements. These alloys are multi-component and exhibit resistivity values 1000-3000 μΩ cm and thermopower values hundreds of μV/K. Such values are typical for state-of-the-art thermoelectric materials and the power factor S²σ can be in the range of 10-15 μW cm^-1 K^-2 at room temperature. In addition to the high power factors, low thermal conductivities are expected due to the presence of heavy elements. We have studied a series of such alloys and the details are presented in this paper.