What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aims to enhance the thermoelectric performance of CayCo4Sb12 skutterudites by minimizing oxide formation during synthesis and processing.

April 4, 2026

Synthesis in an Inert Crucible and Processing in a Controlled Atmosphere of Ca 0.2 Co 4 Sb 12 Skutterudite to Improve Thermoelectric Performance

Key Points

The research aims to enhance the thermoelectric performance of CayCo4Sb12 skutterudites by minimizing oxide formation during synthesis and processing.
Synthesized CayCo4Sb12 in a glassy carbon crucible to prevent Ca-oxidation.
Postprocessed using hand grinding and filled graphite die for sintering under inert conditions.
Tested thermoelectric performance at 800 K.
Compared results from grinding in air versus grinding in argon.
Achieved ZT = 0.9 at 800 K when postprocessed in air.
Avoided CaO formation by grinding in argon, resulting in ZT = 1.1.
Highlighting the significance of processing atmosphere on electronic mobility.

Abstract

The oxide formation of oxygen-sensitive fillers in skutterudites negatively influences their thermoelectric performance. We show that synthesizing CayCo4Sb12 in a crucible that is inert to Ca-oxidation (glassy carbon crucible) and postprocessing (hand grinding and filling graphite die for sintering) it in an inert atmosphere is crucial. When postprocessed in air, a thermoelectric figure of merit ZT = 0.9 is reached at 800 K in Ca0.2Co4Sb12. Hand-grinding in air counterintuitively leads to in-situ CaO formation, which decreases the electronic mobility in CayCo4Sb12. When synthesized under the same conditions but hand-ground under argon, CaO formation is avoided and ZT = 1.1 achieved.

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Synthesis in an Inert Crucible and Processing in a Controlled Atmosphere of Ca 0.2 Co 4 Sb 12 Skutterudite to Improve Thermoelectric Performance

Key Points

Abstract

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