Thermoelectric properties of Ce x Nd y Co 4 Sb 12 skutterudites

Experimental results of studying the thermoelectric properties of Co4Sb12, Ce0.1Nd0.5Co4Sb12, and Ce0.5Nd0.1Co4Sb12 prepared by induction melting are presented. The thermoelectric figure of merit ZT of the studied Co4Sb12 is approximately two times higher than ZT of unfilled skutterudites prepared by the conventional solid-phase synthesis method. The figure of merit of Ce0.1Nd0.5Co4Sb12 and Ce0.5Nd0.1Co4Sb12 appears lower than ZT of Co4Sb12 due to the presence of an impurity phase of metal antimony in the first two samples. It is assumed that the thermoelectric properties of filled skutterudites can be significantly improved by optimizing the induction melting method.