Abstract
The solubility of Yb in Ybx Co4 Sb12 was reported to be 0.19 in bulk skutterudites made by melting and slow cooling method. Surprisingly we increased x close to 0.5 by a special sample preparation method: ball mill and hot press. We show that a higher Yb concentration not only increases the power factor due to a higher electron concentration but also reduces the thermal conductivity k because of stronger phonon scattering. In this way, we have achieved a dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit ZT of about 1.2 at 550°C in Yb0.35 Co4 Sb12.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 115329 |
Journal | Physical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics |
Volume | 80 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 29 2009 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics