Skutterudites: A phonon-glass-electron crystal approach to advanced thermoelectric energy conversion applications

被引:811
作者
Nolas, GS [1 ]
Morelli, DT
Tritt, TM
机构
[1] Marlow Ind Inc, Div Res & Dev, Dallas, TX 75238 USA
[2] GM Corp, Ctr Res & Dev, Warren, MI 48090 USA
[3] Clemson Univ, Kinard Lab, Dept Phys & Astron, Clemson, SC 29634 USA
来源
ANNUAL REVIEW OF MATERIALS SCIENCE | 1999年 / 29卷
关键词
electronic refrigeration; thermopower; semiconductors;
D O I
10.1146/annurev.matsci.29.1.89
中图分类号
T [工业技术];
学科分类号
08 ;
摘要
Recently there has been a resurgence of research efforts related to the investigation of new and novel materials for small-scale thermoelectric refrigeration and power generation applications. These materials need to couple and optimize a variety of properties in order to exhibit the necessary figure of merit, i.e. the numerical expression that is commonly used to compare one potential thermoelectric material with another. The figure of merit is related to the coefficient of performance or efficiency of a particular device made from a material. The best thermoelectric material should possess thermal properties similar to that of a glass and electrical properties similar to that of a perfect single-crystal material, i.e. a poor thermal conductor and a good electrical conductor. Skutterudites are materials that appear to have the potential to fulfill such criteria. These materials exhibit many types of interesting properties. For example, skutterudites are members of a family of compounds we call open structure or cage-like, materials. When atoms are placed into the interstitial voids or cages of these materials, the lattice thermal conductivity can be substantially reduced compared with that of unfilled skutterudites. These compounds exhibit electrical properties ranging from that of low-temperature superconductors to narrow gap semiconductors.
引用
收藏
页码:89 / 116
页数:28
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