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Genomic Effects of the Quenching Process on the Microstructure and Thermoelectric Properties of Yb0.3Co4Sb12

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Abstract

This study systematically examines the traditional “melting–quenching–annealing” fabrication method for filled skutterudite Yb0.3Co4Sb12 to clarify which gene most influences the phase composition, microstructure, and thermoelectric properties of the final products. X-ray diffraction, electron energy dispersive spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and thermoelectric measurements suggest that the Co-Sb peritectic segregation occurring during the quenching process—which can be inherited in the following ensuing fabrication process—shows a very important genomic effect on the microstructure evolution. Severe Co-Sb peritectic segregation would increase the diffusion paths of the composed elements (Yb, Co, and Sb) during the annealing process, making it significantly more difficult to form high-performance single filled skutterudites. The traditional fabrication process can be optimized by introducing a stirring step to accelerate the cooling rate, effectively suppressing the Co-Sb peritectic segregation and consequently improving thermoelectric performance; this result has been achieved in the large-scale Yb0.3Co4Sb12 sample. Our results suggest that the control of Co-Sb peritectic segregation is critical when developing the mass production process for filled skutterudites in the future.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1295 DingXi Road, Shanghai, 200050, China

    Z. Yao, X. Y. Li, Y. S. Tang & L. D. Chen

  2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Z. Yao

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  1. Z. Yao
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  2. X. Y. Li
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  3. Y. S. Tang
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  4. L. D. Chen
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Correspondence to X. Y. Li.

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Yao, Z., Li, X.Y., Tang, Y.S. et al. Genomic Effects of the Quenching Process on the Microstructure and Thermoelectric Properties of Yb0.3Co4Sb12 . J. Electron. Mater. 44, 1890–1895 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-014-3582-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-014-3582-7

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