Abstract
The binary skutterudite CoSb3 is a narrow bandgap semiconductor thermoelectric (TE) material with a relatively flat band structure and excellent electrical performance. However, thermal conductivity is very high because of the covalent bond between Co and Sb, resulting in a very low ZT value. Therefore, researchers have been trying to reduce its thermal conductivity by the different optimization methods. In addition, the synergistic optimization of the electrical and thermal transport parameters is also a key to improve the ZT value of CoSb3 material because the electrical and thermal transport parameters of TE materials are closely related to each other by the band structure and scattering mechanism. This review summarizes the main research progress in recent years to reduce the thermal conductivity of CoSb3-based materials at atomic-molecular scale and nano-mesoscopic scale. We also provide a simple summary of achievements made in recent studies on the non-equilibrium preparation technologies of CoSb3-based materials and synergistic optimization of the electrical and thermal transport parameters. In addition, the research progress of CoSb3-based TE devices in recent years is also briefly discussed.
Highlights
Researchers initially used various optimization methods to reduce the κL of materials, which is a very effective way to improve the ZT values
Some research progresses [4,28–30] about skutterudite materials have been systematically reviewed in recent years
We have reviewed the research progress of CoSb3-based TE materials in recent years
Summary
Thermoelectric (TE) materials can directly convert thermal energy to electrical energy, which have attracted wide attention due to their fascinating applications in power generation and refrigeration [1–4]. The key to further improve the ZT value is to decouple the interrelated electrical and thermal transport parameters by the magnetic nanocomposite [21,22], all-scale hierarchical structuring, endotaxial nanostructuring and valence-band offset engineering, and hierarchical compositionally alloyed nanostructures [23–27]. Research progresses on how to reduce the thermal conductivity of CoSb3-based TE materials at atomic-molecular scale and nano-mesoscopic scale, and how to optimize synergistically the electrical and thermal transport properties, are rarely reported. It has become the focus by reducing the thermal conductivity without deteriorating the electrical properties of the CoSb3 material. The main research progresses on how to reduce the thermal conductivity of CoSb3-based materials at atomic-molecular and nano-mesoscopic scale in recent years were summarized. We briefly summarize the research progresses of CoSb3-based TE devices in recent years
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