Thermal conductivity of skutterudite thin films and superlattices

Experimental results on the temperature-dependent cross-plane thermal conductivity of skutterudite thin films are presented. The films examined include IrSb3, CoSb3, and Ir0.5Co0.5Sb3 single layers, and IrSb3/CoSb3 superlattices that are grown by pulsed-laser deposition. A differential 3 omega method is used to measure the cross-plane thermal conductivity of these films from 80 to 300 K. The experimental results show a significant reduction in their thermal conductivity values compared to those of their corresponding bulk samples reported in literature. Possible mechanisms contributing to the thermal conductivity reduction are discussed. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(00)00649-5].