Abstract
Exploration of new rare-earth captured clathrates is an important field of clathrate application. Study on the second phases produced in the synthesis process is crucial for confirming the incorporation of rare earth atoms into the clathrate lattice. In the current study, the Yb -doped clathrate samples with nominal composition of Ba6Yb2Ga16Ge30were prepared by combining arc melting (ARC), melt spinning (MS) and spark plasma sintering (SPS) techniques. By using the TEM with EDS analysis and X-ray diffraction refinement, phase analysis was systemically performed in different steps of the preparation process. Although the clathrate was the main phase in obtained samples, the Yb content in the clathrate phase was found to be much lower than the nominal composition as the Yb atoms strongly tend to create other byproduct phases including Yb2O3— which is the main obstacle in the synthesis of Yb -substituted clathrates. For the dilute Yb -doped germanium clathrate sample a decrease in the thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity was simultaneously observed, therefore, no expected improvement of ZT occurred.
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