High temperature thermoelectric properties of p-type skutterudites BaxYbyCo4-zFezSb12

Dong, Y.; Puneet, P.; Tritt, T. M.; Martin, J.; Nolas, G. S.

High temperature thermoelectric properties of p-type skutterudites BaxYbyCo4-zFezSb12

Type

Article

Authors

Dong, Y.
Puneet, P.
Tritt, T. M.
Martin, J.
Nolas, G. S.

Online Publication Date

2012-10-25

Print Publication Date

2012-10-15

Date

2012-10-25

Abstract

Several polycrystalline p-type skutterudites with compositions Ba xYb yCo 4-zFe zSb 12, with varying filler concentrations x and y, and z = 1 to 2, were synthesized by reacting the constituents and subsequent solid state annealing, followed by densification by hot-pressing. Their thermoelectric properties were evaluated from 300 to 820 K. The Yb filling fraction increased with Fe content while the amount of Fe substitution had little influence on the Ba filling fraction. High purity specimens were obtained when the Fe content was low. Bipolar conduction contributed to the thermal conductivity at elevated temperatures. A maximum ZT value of 0.7 was obtained at 750 K for the specimen with the highest Fe content and filling fraction. The potential for thermoelectric applications is also discussed. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.

Citation

Dong Y, Puneet P, Tritt TM, Martin J, Nolas GS (2012) High temperature thermoelectric properties of p-type skutterudites BaxYbyCo4-zFezSb12. Journal of Applied Physics 112: 083718. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4759370.

Acknowledgements

Y.D. and G.S.N. gratefully acknowledge financial support from the National Science Foundation and Department of Energy Partnership on Thermoelectric Devices for Vehicle Applications (Grant No. 1048796). The work in Dr. Tritt's lab acknowledges in part the support of a KAUST Faculty Initiated Collaboration grant and also some funding from Clemson University.