Thermoelectric properties of filled InCo4Sb12 skutterudite with embedded ZnO inclusions: Influence on thermal conductivity and stability of electrical properties

• Published in: Ceramics international 2024-12, Vol.50 (24), p.55201-55207
• Main Authors: Chernyshova, Evgeniya, Voronin, Andrei, Moskovskikh, Dmitry, Sviridova, Tatyana, Yushchuk, Vyacheslav, Khovaylo, Vladimir
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: In-filled Co4Sb12; Microhardness of skutterudites; Skutterudites; Thermoelectric composites; Thermoelectric properties
• ISSN: 0272-8842
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2024.10.371

Composite thermoelectric materials based on skutterudite represent an interesting subject for the synthesis and study of their thermoelectric properties. The introduction of oxide additives typically reduces the cost of the product and can positively affect the mechanical properties and thermal stability of the material. In this work, a high-performance composite skutterudite (InCo4Sb12) + xwt.% (ZnO) (x = 0, 1, 2.7 and 7.4) was obtained by a combination of induction melting and planetary ball milling. Bulk composites with a density of 90 % were obtained by spark plasma sintering. In contrast to the results reported in previously published works, in this case there was an increase in thermal conductivity, which was associated with the formation of agglomerates of highly thermally conductive oxide phases. The figure of merit zT reaches 1.41 at 700 K for the reference sample InCo4Sb12, and 1.28 for the composite with embedded ZnO inclusions. Despite a 9 % decrease in the zT, the best composite InCo4Sb12/ZnO demonstrates an increase in hardness of 18 % and reduction in the cost of raw materials.