Abstract: | Co1−x−y
Nix+y
Sb3−x
Sn
x
polycrystals were fabricated by vacuum melting combined with hot-press sintering. The effect of alloying on the thermoelectric
properties of unfilled skutterudite Co1−x
Ni
x
Sb3−x
Sn
x
was investigated. A leap of electrical conductivity from the Co0.93Ni0.07Sb2.93Sn0.07 sample to the Co0.88Ni0.12Sb2.88Sn0.12 sample occurs during the measurement of electrical conductivity, indicating the adjustment of band structure by proper alloying.
The results show that alloying enhances the power factor of the materials. On the basis of alloying, the thermoelectric properties
of Co0.88Ni0.12Sb2.88Sn0.12 are improved by Ni-doping. The thermal conductivities of Ni-doping samples have no reduction, but their power factors have
obvious enhancement. The power factor of Co0.81Ni0.19Sb2.88Sn0.12 reaches 3.0 mW·m−1·K−2 by Ni doping. The dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit reaches 0.55 at 773 K for the unfilled Co0.81Ni0.19 Sb2.88Sn0.12. |