Study on Thermoelectric Properties of Bulk Ce0.9FexCo4-xSb12 Prepared by Sintering

Abstract Bulk Ce 0.9 Fe 1 Co 3 Sb 12 and Ce 0.9 Fe 3 Co 1 Sb 12 were prepared by mechanical milling and sintering. The phases of the products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and their thermoelectric properties were tested by electric constant instrument and laser thermal constant instrument. Experimental results show that, the major phases of bulk Ce 0.9 Fe 1 Co 3 Sb 12 and Ce 0.9 Fe 3 Co 1 Sb 12 are skutterudite but the later has more purity phases. The electrical resistivities of bulk Ce 0.9 Fe 1 Co 3 Sb 12 increase with temperature rising and are higher than those of Ce 0.9 Fe 3 Co 1 Sb 12 .The absolute values of α of bulk Ce 0.9 Fe 1 Co 3 Sb 12 are higher than those of bulk Ce 0.9 Fe 3 Co 1 Sb 12 and increase with temperature rising. The power factor of bulk Ce 0.9 Fe 1 Co 3 Sb 12 increases with temperature rising at 100∼500 °C. The thermal conductivities of all Ce 0.9 Fe x Co 4-x Sb 12 samples increase with temperature rising. ZT values of bulk Ce 0.9 Fe x Co 4-x Sb 12 are all higher than those of bulk Ce 0.9 Fe 3 Co 1 Sb 12 . It obtains the maximum ZT value 0.2024 at 400 °C.