In-situ spark plasma sintering synthesis of Skutterudite compounds Fe_xCo_(4-x)Sb_(12) and thermoelectric properties

Co-rich skutterudite compounds of Fe_xCo_(4-x)Sb_(12) (x=0～1.0) were synthesized by spark plasma sintering (SPS) at 800～1000K, and the structure, morphologies and thermoelectric properties of the compounds were studied. The lattice constant increased linearly with increasing Fe content, and electric conductivity increased with increasing substitution of Fe for Co sites, while the highest value of Seebeck coefficient shifted towards high temperature range and thermal conductivity further decreased with increasing Fe content. For Co-rich skutterudite compounds of Fe_xCo_(4-x)Sb_(12), the compound of Fe_(1.0)Co_(3.0)Sb_(12) had a higher thermoelectric property and the maximum value of the dimensionless figure of merit ZT of 0.30 was achieved at 673K.