Filled-skutterudite composite material and method of preparing the same

摘要

A composite material comprises a filled skutterudite matrix of formula (I) I_yCo₄Sb₁₂ in which (I) represents at least one of Yb, Eu, Ce, La, Nd, Ba and Sr, 0.05≦y1; and GaSb particles within the filled skutterudite matrix, wherein the composite material comprises 0.05-5 mol % GaSb particles. Compared with conventional materials, the composite material exhibits a substantially increased Seebeck coefficient, a slightly decreased overall thermal conductivity, and a substantially increased thermoelectric performance index across the whole temperature zone from the low temperature end to the high temperature end, as well as a greatly enhanced thermoelectric efficiency.