Investigation of the Effect of Double-Filler Atoms on the Thermoelectric Properties of Ce-YbCo<sub>4</sub>Sb<sub>12</sub>
Nguyen Vu Binh,
Nguyen Van Du,
Nayoung Lee,
Minji Kang,
So Hyeon Ryu,
Munhwi Lee,
Deokcheol Seo,
Woo Hyun Nam,
Jong Wook Roh,
Soonil Lee,
Se Yun Kim,
Sang-Mo Koo,
Weon Ho Shin,
Jung Young Cho
Affiliations
Nguyen Vu Binh
Advanced Materials Convergence R&D Division, Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology (KICET), Jinju 52851, Republic of Korea
Nguyen Van Du
Faculty of Fundamental Sciences, Phenikaa University, Yen Nghia, Ha-Dong District, Hanoi 10000, Vietnam
Nayoung Lee
Advanced Materials Convergence R&D Division, Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology (KICET), Jinju 52851, Republic of Korea
Minji Kang
Advanced Materials Convergence R&D Division, Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology (KICET), Jinju 52851, Republic of Korea
So Hyeon Ryu
Advanced Materials Convergence R&D Division, Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology (KICET), Jinju 52851, Republic of Korea
Munhwi Lee
Advanced Materials Convergence R&D Division, Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology (KICET), Jinju 52851, Republic of Korea
Deokcheol Seo
New & Renewable Energy Power Generation Department, Korea South-East Power Co. (KOEN), Yeongcheon 38837, Republic of Korea
Woo Hyun Nam
Advanced Materials Convergence R&D Division, Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology (KICET), Jinju 52851, Republic of Korea
Jong Wook Roh
School of Nano & Materials Science and Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Republic of Korea
Soonil Lee
Department of Materials Convergence and System Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Changwon National University, Changwon 51140, Republic of Korea
Se Yun Kim
Device Research Center, Samsung Electronics, Suwon 16678, Republic of Korea
Sang-Mo Koo
Department of Electronic Materials Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Seoul 01897, Republic of Korea
Weon Ho Shin
Department of Electronic Materials Engineering, Kwangwoon University, Seoul 01897, Republic of Korea
Jung Young Cho
Advanced Materials Convergence R&D Division, Korea Institute of Ceramic Engineering and Technology (KICET), Jinju 52851, Republic of Korea
Skutterudite compounds have been studied as potential thermoelectric materials due to their high thermoelectric efficiency, which makes them attractive candidates for applications in thermoelectric power generation. In this study, the effects of double-filling on the thermoelectric properties of the CexYb0.2−xCo4Sb12 skutterudite material system were investigated through the process of melt spinning and spark plasma sintering (SPS). By replacing Yb with Ce, the carrier concentration was compensated for by the extra electron from Ce donors, leading to optimized electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and power factor of the CexYb0.2−xCo4Sb12 system. However, at high temperatures, the power factor showed a downturn due to bipolar conduction in the intrinsic conduction regime. The lattice thermal conductivity of the CexYb0.2−xCo4Sb12 skutterudite system was clearly suppressed in the range between 0.025 and 0.1 for Ce content, due to the introduction of the dual phonon scattering center from Ce and Yb fillers. The highest ZT value of 1.15 at 750 K was achieved for the Ce0.05Yb0.15Co4Sb12 sample. The thermoelectric properties could be further improved by controlling the secondary phase formation of CoSb2 in this double-filled skutterudite system.