Effect of Y (yttrium) filling fraction on thermoelectric properties ofp-type Y _yFe _xCo_4−xSb₁₂

Abstract

Yttrium-filled skutterudites Y_yFe_xCo_4−xSb₁₂ (y=0–0.40) were synthesized. The effect of Y filling fraction on thermoelectric properties of Y_yFe_xCo_4−xSb₁₂ was investigated. All samples showed p-type conduct. The electrical conductivity decreased with increasing filling fraction y. The Seebeck coefficient increased with increasing temperature. The lattice thermal conductivity decreased with increasing filling fraction y and showed the minimum value at a certain filling fraction y=0.3. The effect of different filling atoms M (M: Ba, Ce, Y) on the lattice thermal conductivity of M_yFe_xCo_4−xSb₁₂ was discussed. The maximum ZT value of 0.7 was obtained for Y_0.08Fe_0.7Co_3.3Sb₁₂ at 750 K.

Keywords

filled skutterudite compound / filled fraction / thermoelectric properties

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