Effects of Se substitution on the thermoelectric performance of n-type Co{sub 4}Sb{sub 11.3}Te{sub 0.7−x}Se{sub x} skutterudites

Journal Article · Sun Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2012 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2012.03.059· OSTI ID:22215138

Duan, Bo ^[1]; Zhai, Pengcheng ^[1]; Liu, Lisheng; Zhang, Qingjie ^[1]

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1. State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, No. 122, Luoshi Road, Wuhan 430070 (China)

Highlights: ► The simple solid state reaction technique was employed to prepare Co{sub 4}Sb{sub 11.3}Te{sub 0.7−x}Se{sub x} skutterudites. ► The thermal conductivity decreases gradually with the increasing Se content. ► Doping with moderate Se is an effective way to enhance the thermoelectric performance of Co{sub 4}Sb{sub 11.3}Te{sub 0.7−x}Se{sub x}. ► The highest ZT of 1.11 at 800 K is obtained for the Co{sub 4}Sb{sub 11.3}Te{sub 0.58}Se{sub 0.12} sample. -- Abstract: A series of double-substituted Co{sub 4}Sb{sub 11.3}Te{sub 0.7−x}Se{sub x} skutterudites have been fabricated by combining the solid state reaction and the spark plasma sintering method, and the effects of Se substitution on the thermoelectric properties are characterized by measurements of the electrical conductivity, the Seebeck coefficient and the thermal conductivity in the temperature range of 300–800 K. Doping Se into the Co{sub 4}Sb{sub 11.3}Te{sub 0.7−x}Se{sub x} matrix suppresses the carrier concentration, and the electrical conductivity actually decreases with the Se content. However, moderate Se doping is effective in enhancing the thermoelectric performance of the n-type Co{sub 4}Sb{sub 11.3}Te{sub 0.7−x}Se{sub x}, because of the resulted dramatically decreased thermal conductivity. Analyses indicate that the heightened point-defect scattering induced by Se doping together with the electron–phonon scattering induced by Te doping is responsible for the reduction of lattice thermal conductivity of these compounds.

• OSTI ID: 22215138
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 47, Issue 7; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2012 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SINTERING
SOLIDS
TEMPERATURE RANGE
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
THERMOELECTRIC PROPERTIES
X-RAY DIFFRACTION