Unexpected p-type thermoelectric transport arising from magnetic Mn substitution in Fe2V1−xMnxAl Heusler compounds

An anomalous p-type thermopower was realised for nominally n-doped Fe 2 V 1− x Mn x Al, via localized magnetic Mn impurity states at the band edges. A relatively large power factor 2.2 mW K −2 m −1 and ZT ∼ 0.1 could be obtained for the p-type full Heuslers.