Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T07:39:02.075Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Synthesis and Thermoelectric Properties of CeyRuxIr4−xSb12) Filled Skutterudite Compounds

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

April D. Jewell
Affiliation:
[email protected], Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Mail Stop 277-207, Pasadena, CA, 91109, United States
Jong-Ah Paik
Affiliation:
Thierry Caillat
Affiliation:
Get access

Abstract

Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) have proved to be reliable, long-lived sources of electrical power that have enabled the conduct of a number of important NASA deep space missions since 1961. Past RTGs have used two types of thermoelectric materials: PbTe/TAGS and SiGe. In an effort to further improve both the thermoelectric efficiency and specific power of the next generation of RTGs, JPL is investigating a number of potential high-efficiency, high-temperature thermoelectric materials that could operate at a hot-side temperature of up to 1275 K. Among the materials being studied are the refractory CeyRu4−xIrxSb12 filled skutterudite compounds. We have synthesized polycrystalline samples for x ≤ 1.5 by a powder metallurgy technique. Dense samples have been hot-pressed from the pre-reacted powders and characterized by a variety of techniques including electron probe microanalysis, differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetic analysis. Seebeck coefficient, electrical resistivity, Hall coefficient, and thermal conductivity measurements have been conducted on the samples from room temperature to 1275 K. Results show that the samples are phase stable up to 1275 K. The results of the transport property measurements are presented and discussed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCE

1. Caillat, T., Borshchevsky, A., and Fleurial, J. -P., in Proceedings of the 15th Symposium on Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion, edited by El-Genk, M. S. editor, AIP Conference Proceedings 420, New York, USA, 1647 (1998).Google Scholar
2. Caillat, T., Fleurial, J. -P., Snyder, G. J., Zoltan, A., Zoltan, D., and Borshchevsky, A., in Proceedings of the 16th Symposium on Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion, AIP Conference Proceedings 458, edited by El-Genk, M. S., New York, 1403 (1999).Google Scholar
3. Caillat, T., Fleurial, J. -P., Snyder, G. J., Zoltan, A., Zoltan, D., and Borshchevsky, A., in Proceeding of 18th International Conference on Thermoelectrics,, Baltimore, USA, IEEE Catalog Number 99TH8407, 473 (1999).Google Scholar
4. Caillat, T., and Sakamoto, J., The New edition of Thermoelectric Energy Conversion Systems, SIPEC, Realize Science and Engineering, Japan, pp. 8390 (2004).Google Scholar
5. Caillat, T., Fleurial, J. -P., Borshchevsky, A., J. Appl. Phys, Vol. 80, 8, pp.44424449 (1996).Google Scholar
6. Chen, G., Dresselhaus, M., Fleurial, J. -P., Caillat, T., International Materials Review, 48 [1] pp. 4566 (2003).Google Scholar