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Title: Examination of CeFe[subscript 4]Sb[subscript 12] upon exposure to air: Is this material appropriate for use in terrestrial, high-temperature thermoelectric devices?

Journal Article · · J. Alloy Comp.

The rare-earth (RE) filled skutterudites (e.g., CeFe{sub 4}Sb{sub 12}) have been proposed for use in the next-generation of high-temperature thermoelectric devices. In this investigation, the influence of air exposure on the stability of CeFe{sub 4}Sb{sub 12} has been studied for temperatures ranging from 300 K to 1073 K. Examination of the material after exposure to air at these temperatures using thermogravimetric analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, and X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy has shown that above 573 K, CeFe{sub 4}Sb{sub 12} decomposes and then rapidly oxidizes. This temperature is much lower than the maximum operating temperature proposed for high-temperature thermoelectric devices used to recover the waste heat from vehicle exhaust systems (700-773 K).

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
1002572
Journal Information:
J. Alloy Comp., Vol. 505, Issue (1) ; 08, 2010; ISSN 0925-8388
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH