The remarkable crystal chemistry of the Ca 14 AlSb 11 structure type, magnetic and thermoelectric properties

Yb 14 MnSb 11 is a member of a remarkable structural family of compounds that are classified according to the concept of Zintl. This structure type, of which the prototype is Ca 14 AlSb 11 , provides a flexible framework for tuning structure-property relationships and hence the physical and chemical properties of compounds. Compounds within this family show exceptional high temperature thermoelectric performance at temperatures above 300 K and unique magnetic and transport behavior at temperatures below 300 K. This review provides an overview of the structure variants, the magnetic properties, and the thermoelectric properties. Suggestions for directions of future research are provided