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p-Type skutterudites RxMyFe3CoSb12 (R, M = Ba, Ce, Nd, and Yb): Effectiveness of double-filing for the lattice thermal conductivity reduction

Journal Article · · Intermetallics
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [3]
  1. CAS Key Lab. for Energy-conversion Materials, Shanghai Inst. of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai (China)
  2. State Key Lab. of High Perf. Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Inst. of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai (China)
  3. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
Ab-initio calculations of the resonant modes and frequencies for a number of possible fillers in p-type RFe₃CoSb₁₂ and RFe₄Sb₁₂ were carried out. The results indicate that, although the exact values of fillers’ resonant frequencies in p-type skutterudites are somewhat different from those in n-type Co-based skutterudites, the Einstein-like resonant modes of the fillers are similar to those in n-type materials. Experimentally, several pairs of the fillers were selected and double-filled p-type skutterudite compounds R{sub x}M{sub y}Fe₃CoSb₁₂ (R, M = Ba, Ce, Nd, and Yb) were successfully synthesized. The reduction in the lattice thermal conductivity was realized by extending the range of resonant frequencies. As a result, enhanced ZT values above unity were achieved in these double-filled p-type skutterudites.
Research Organization:
Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC); Center for Solar and Thermal Energy Conversion (CSTEC)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE SC Office of Basic Energy Sciences (SC-22)
Contributing Organization:
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai (China); National Basic Research Program of China
DOE Contract Number:
SC0000957
OSTI ID:
1065639
Journal Information:
Intermetallics, Journal Name: Intermetallics Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 19; ISSN 0966-9795
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English