Phase Transformation and Thermoelectric Properties of Sn-Filled/Fe-doped CoSb-3 Skutterudites

摘要

Sn-filled and Fe-doped CoSb-3 skutterudites were synthesized by encapsulated induction melting. A single δ-phase was obtained by subsequent annealing, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The as-solidified ingot consisted of mixed phases of β-CoSb, γ-CoSb-2, 8-CoSb-3 and elemental Sb. The phases could be transformed by annealing, and the phases of the as-solidified ingot annealed at 773 K for 24 h transformed to δ-CoSb-3. The temperature dependence of the Seebeck coefficient, electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity were examined from 300 K to 700 K. The positive Seebeck coefficient confirmed p-type conduction. The electrical resistivity increased with increasing temperature, which showed that the Sn-zCo-3FeSb-12 skutterudite is highly degenerate. The thermal conductivity was reduced by Sn-filling because the filler atoms acted as phonon scattering centers in the skutterudite lattice. The thermoelectric figure of merit was enhanced by Sn filling and its optimum composition was considered to be Sn-0.3Co-3FeSb-12.