Thermoelectric properties of Yb x Co_4 Sb_（12） system

Yb x Co 4 Sb 12 polycrystals were fabricated by vacuum melting combined with hot-press sintering.The effect of Yb-filling on thermoelectric property of unfilled skutterudite CoSb 3 was investigated,which indicated the enhancement of the power factor of the material.Transport properties of materials changed from semi-conductor to semi-metal during the measurement of electrical conductivity,which indicated the change of electronic band structure.The maximum value of electrical conductivity was about 190000 S/m at 300 K for all samples.On the basis of Yb-filling,power factor of Yb 0.2 Co 4 Sb 12 reached 5-6 mW/（m·K） during the measurement temperature.Thermal conductivity decreased with increase of Yb content,and the thermal conductivity of Yb 0.2 Co 4 Sb 12 reached 3.2 W/（m·K） at 600 K.The ZT value of Yb 0.2 Co 4 Sb 12 reached 1.16 at 700 K due to positive contribution from high power factor and low thermal conductivity.