N-type Ba0.2Co4Sb11.5Te0.5: Optimization of thermoelectric properties by different pressures

Abstract

The polycrystalline skutterudite [Formula: see text] were successfully synthesized from 1.5 GPa to 3.5 GPa by the high pressure and high temperature (HPHT) method. Negative Seebeck coefficient confirmed the n-type conductivity of all samples. The phase compositions of samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the microstructures were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that the grains appeared smaller and the grain boundaries became more abundant when pressures were higher. We measured the electrical properties from room temperature to 723 K. Both the electrical resistivity and absolute value of Seebeck coefficient increase with the increasing synthetic pressure. At 723 K, the maximum power factor of [Formula: see text] was obtained for the sample synthesized under 3 GPa. The maximum ZT value of 0.61 was reached by [Formula: see text] synthesized under 3 GPa and measured at 723 K.