THERMOELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF p-TYPE SKUTTERUDITES (Pr0.25Nd0.75)xFe3CoSb12 BY LEVITATION MELTING AND SPARK PLASMA SINTERING

The p-type skutterudite compounds of ( Pr 0.25 Nd 0.75 ) x Fe 3 CoSb 12 (x = 0.67–0.78) have been successfully synthesized by levitation melting followed by annealing and spark plasma sintering. The thermoelectric properties have been characterized by the measurements of Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity in the temperature range from 300 K to 850 K. The improvement in the thermoelectric properties was realized due to the reduction in the lattice thermal conductivity when the voids were partially filled by Pr 0.25 Nd 0.75 . The maximum ZT value of ~ 0.83 for ( Pr 0.25 Nd 0.75 ) 0.76 Fe 3 CoSb 12 was obtained at 700 K.