La doping effect in thermoelectric properties of skutterudite compound CeRu/sub 4/P/sub 12/

Filled skutterudite compounds La/sub x/Ce/sub 1-x/Ru/sub 4/P/sub 12/ (0/spl les/x/spl les/0.3) have been prepared at high temperature and high pressure. The samples were characterized by x-ray diffractometry. Electrical resistivity, Seebeck coefficient and thermal conductivity were measured. The thermoelectric properties of CeRu/sub 4/P/sub 12/ were optimized by 10% La doping. High power factor values in the order of 10/sup -3/ W/mK/sup 2/ have been observed in La/sub 0.1/Ce/sub 0.9/Ru/sub 4/P/sub 12/.