Modeling Thermopower in AlPdMn Based Quasicrystalline Systems

We report room temperature thermopower values and the temperature dependence for several AlPdMn based quasicrystals. In an effort to further understand the complexities of electrical transport in quasicrystalline systems, thermopower data for icosahedral Al 71 Pd 21 Mn 8- XRe X will be presented and discussed. A relation of room temperature thermopower to the curvature of the thermopower is demonstrated. We propose an empirical fit to the thermopower data, utilizing three free variables. The physical significance of the fit parameters is discussed. These results are discussed in brief concerning the relation to the application of quasicrystals for use as thermoelectric materials.