Preparation and thermopower of new mischmetal-based partially filled skutterudites MmyFe4−x(Co/Ni)xSb12

We report on sample preparation and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) in the series MmyFe4−x(Co/Ni)xSb12 with Mm being mischmetal. We show the possibility of preparing mischmetal-based partially filled skutterudites without any segregation of the rare-earths. Room temperature thermopower is similar in mischmetal-based skutterudites to cerium- or ytterbium-based partially filled skutterudites.