Observation of the interplay of microstructure and thermopower in theAl71Pd21Mn8−xRexquasicrystalline system

Abstract

In an effort to garner further insight into the behavior of thermopower in quasicrystalline materials, a series of quartenary ${\mathrm{Al}}_{71}{\mathrm{Pd}}_{21}{\mathrm{Mn}}_{8\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Re}}_{x}$ polygrain quasicrystals was synthesized. X-ray data confirm that the addition of a fourth element does not alter the quasiperiodicity. It is found that there is an intricate interplay of the microstructure and the magnitude and temperature dependence of the thermopower in this series of materials. Results are presented relating the temperature dependence of the thermopower to the presence and nature of secondary phases within the microstructure.