Abstract
In order to improve the thermoelectric properties via efficient phonon scattering Didymium (DD), a mixture of Pr and Nd, was used as a new filler in ternary skutterudites (Fe 1− x Co x ) 4Sb 12 and (Fe 1− x Ni x ) 4Sb 12. DD-filling levels have been determined from combined data of X-ray powder diffraction and electron microprobe analyses (EMPA). Thermoelectric properties have been characterized by measurements of electrical resistivity, thermopower and thermal conductivity in the temperature range from 4.3 to 800 K. The effect of nanostructuring in DD 0.4Fe 2Co 2Sb 12 was elucidated from a comparison of both micro-powder (ground in a WC-mortar, ∼10 μm) and nano-powder (ball-milled, ∼150 nm), both hot pressed under identical conditions. The figure of merit ZT depends on the Fe/Co and Ni/Co-contents, respectively, reaching ZT > 1. At low temperatures the nanostructured material exhibits a higher thermoelectric figure of merit. The Vickers hardness was measured for all samples being higher for the nanostructured material.
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