We report the evolution of thermal transport properties of iron-based superconductor K$_x$Fe$_{2-y}$Se$_2$ with sulfur substitution at Se sites. Sulfur doping suppresses the superconducting $T_c$ as well as the Seebeck coefficient. The Seebeck coeffi
cient of all crystals in the low temperature range can be described very well by diffusive thermoelectric response model. The zero-temperature extrapolated value of Seebeck coefficient divided by temperature $S/T$ gradually decreases from $-0.48 mu V/K^2$ to a very small value $sim$ 0.03 $mu$V/K$^2$ where $T_c$ is completely suppressed. The normal state electron Sommerfeld term ($gamma_n$) of specific heat also decreases with the increase of sulfur content. The dcrease of $S/T$ and $gamma_n$ reflects a suppression of the density of states at the Fermi energy, or a change in the Fermi surface that would induce the suppression of correlation strength.
Using a two-orbital model and Monte Carlo simulations, we investigate the effect of nonmagnetic B-site substitution on half-doped CE-type manganites. The lattice defects induced by this substitution destabilize the CE phase, which transforms into (1)
the ferromagnetic (FM) metallic competing state, or (2) a regime with short-range FM clusters, or (3) a spin-glass state, depending on couplings and on the valence of the B-site substitution. While a C-type antiferromagnetic state is usually associated with an average $e_{rm g}$ charge density less than 0.5, the nonmagnetic B-site substitution that lowers the $e_{rm g}$ charge density is still found to enhance the FM tendency in our simulations. The present calculations are in qualitative agreement with experiments and provide a rationalization for the complex role of nonmagnetic B-site substitution in modulating the phase transitions in manganites.
