Effect of segregated impurity phases on lattice thermal conductivity in Y-added CoSb3

摘要

Three preparation methods - quenching, sintering and annealing - have been employed to synthesize Y-filled skutterudite compounds YxCO4Sb12 (0.00 <= x <= 0.35). Y atoms do not fill the vacancy sites in the skutterudite structure in the form of YxCO4Sb12. YSb and CoSb2 are formed as impurity phases when Y is added. The lattice thermal conductivity is reduced by 30% by Y addition, indicating that the segregated impurity phases strongly scatter. (c) 2006 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.