Thermoelectric properties of Au-based metallic glass at low temperatures

The thermoelectric properties of Au49Cu26.9Ag5.5Pd2.3Si16.3 glassy alloy have been studied using electrical resistivity, thermal conductivity and Seebeck coefficient measurements over temperature range 2-390 K. At heating, resistivity rho decreases in a power-law manner from residual value rho(0) similar to 150 mu I (c) cm. The temperature coefficient of resistivity, alpha = rho(-1)(a,rho/a,T), is rather small and varies non-monotonously. Thermal conductivity kappa rises linearly at low temperatures; it exhibits a plateau-like feature and sharply increases at elevated temperatures. Seebeck coefficient S increases with temperature and exhibits a characteristic "knee" feature. At elevated temperatures, S increases linearly with temperature but with a different slope. It total, thermoelectric properties of Au-based glassy alloy demonstrate behavior of a highly disordered system in a most pronounced manner.