Synthesis and thermoelectric properties of p-type barium-filled skutterudite BayFexCo4−xSb12
Single-phase barium-filled skutterudite compounds, BayFexCo4−xSb12 (x = 0 to 3.0, y = 0 to 0.7), were synthesized by a two-step solid-state reaction method. The maximum filling fraction of Ba (ymax) in BayFexCo4–xSb12 increased with increasing Fe content and was found to be rather greater than that of CeyFexCo4–xSb12. The ymax varied from 0.35 to near 1.0 when Fe content changed from 0 to 4.0. BayFexCo4–xSb12 showed p-type conduction at a composition range of x = 0 to 3.0, y = 0 to 0.7. Carrier concentration and electrical conductivity increased with increasing Fe content and decreased with increasing Ba filling fraction. The Seebeck coefficient increased with increasing Ba filling fraction and with decreasing Fe content. Lattice thermal conductivity decreased with increasing Ba filling fraction and reached a minimum at a certain Ba filling fraction (y = 0.3 to 0.4). The greatest ZT value of 0.9 was obtained at 750 K for p-type Ba0.27Fe0.98Co3.02Sb12. It is expected that further investigation on the optimization of filling fraction would result in a higher ZT value at the moderately low Fe content region.