Novel thermoelectric skutterudites SnyNi4Sb12-xSnx

Abstract Sn y Ni 4 Sb 12− x Sn x (2.4⩽ x ⩽5.6; 0⩽ y ⩽0.31 at 250°C) belongs to a new class of skutterudites in which the 8c site is fully occupied by Ni atoms. Sn atoms occupy two inequivalent sites (24g and 2a) and have a large thermal displacement parameter in 2a. Within the homogeneity range, electronic transport is primarily governed by the number of charge carriers, revealing a crossover from metallic- to a semiconducting behaviour with increase in x .