Abstract
Thermal conductivity, resistivity, Seebeck coefficient, and structure measurements of CoSb3 with tin interstitially placed in the voids are reported. These tin-filled skutterudites were synthesized under high pressure and temperature conditions; they cannot be synthesized under "normal" synthesis approaches. The tin atoms exhibit very large atomic displacement parameters indicating a large "rattling" motion inside their atomic "cages." The disorder induced by the Sn atoms is a very good phonon scattering mechanism. The thermal conductivity of these compounds is very low with a temperature dependence that is atypical of simple solids. The tin-filled compounds exhibit n-type semiconducting behavior with relatively high Seebeck coefficients for compounds whose electronic properties have not been optimized. The potential for thermoelectric applications is discussed.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 52-54 |
Number of pages | 3 |
Journal | Applied Physics Letters |
Volume | 77 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2000 Jul 3 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)