Abstract
Skutterudite compounds, SryCo4Sb12-xGex (y=0.3, x=0–0.3), are synthesized by a melting method. The effect of germanium doping on thermoelectric properties is investigated. Electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and thermal conductivity are measured from 300 to 850 K. The substitution of germanium is effective in reducing thermal conductivity while keeping excellent electrical transport properties owing to the high filling fraction of Sr and Ge doping as charge compensation. The dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit ZT is observed to increase from 0.9 at 850 K for Sr0.28Co4Sb12 to 1.05 for Sr0.34Co4Sb11.9Ge0.1 at 850 K. These results suggest that doping with germanium is an attractive avenue to optimization of filled skutterudites.
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