Synthesis, characterization and physical properties of the skutterudites YbxFe2Ni2Sb12 (0≤x≤0.4)

Kaltzoglou, A., Vaqueiro, P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7545-6262, Knight, K. S. and Powell, A. V. (2012) Synthesis, characterization and physical properties of the skutterudites YbxFe2Ni2Sb12 (0≤x≤0.4). Journal of Solid State Chemistry, 193. pp. 36-41. ISSN 0022-4596 doi: 10.1016/j.jssc.2012.03.041

Abstract/Summary

The skutterudites YbxFe2Ni2Sb12 (0≤x≤0.4) have been prepared by solid-state reaction and characterised by powder X-ray diffraction. The compounds crystallise in the cubic space group Im View the MathML source3¯ (a≈9.1 Å) with Yb atoms partially filling the voids in the skutterudite framework. A neutron time-of-flight diffraction experiment for Fe2Ni2Sb12 confirms the disorder of Fe and Ni atoms on the transition-metal site. Electrical resistivity, Seebeck coefficient and thermal conductivity measurements indicate that the thermoelectric performance of the skutterudites shows a marked dependence on the Yb content. Magnetic measurements over the temperature range 2≤T/K≤300 show paramagnetic behaviour for all compounds. Decomposition studies under an oxidising atmosphere at elevated temperatures have also been carried out by thermogravimetric analysis.