Low-Temperature thermoelectric properties of p-Type and n-Type filled skutterudite compounds Smy(Fe1-xNix)4Sb12 prepared under high pressure

Filled skutterudite compounds Smy(Fe1-xNix)4Sb12 (nominal composition 0 <= x <= 0.56, 0.1 <= y <= 1.2) were synthesized under high pressure using a cubic anvil press. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry and electron probe microanalyzer. Thermoelectric properties of Smy(Fe1-xNix)4Sb12 were investigated in the temperature range of 2-300 K. The Seebeck coefficient of samples exhibits the feature of p-Type and n-Type conductors depending on Sm-filling ratio and Fe/Ni content. The highest dimensionless figure of merit ZT value of 0.167 is achieved for nominal composition Sm0.2(Fe0.6Ni0.4)4Sb12 at room temperature.