Compositional Optimization and Structural Properties of the Filled Skutterudite Sm<i><sub>y</sub></i>(Fe<i><sub>x</sub></i>Ni<sub>1−<i>x</i></sub>)<sub>4</sub>Sb<sub>11.5</sub>Sn<sub>0.5</sub>
A compositional and crystallographic study was carried out on the Sm<i><sub>y</sub></i>(Fe<i><sub>x</sub></i>Ni<sub>1−<i>x</i></sub>)<sub>4</sub>Sb<sub>11.5</sub>Sn<sub>0.5</sub> filled skutte...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-05-01
|
| Series: | Metals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/10/5/692 |
| _version_ | 1797567093980266496 |
|---|---|
| author | Cristina Artini Riccardo Carlini Lara Gigli Carlo Fanciulli |
| author_facet | Cristina Artini Riccardo Carlini Lara Gigli Carlo Fanciulli |
| author_sort | Cristina Artini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A compositional and crystallographic study was carried out on the Sm<i><sub>y</sub></i>(Fe<i><sub>x</sub></i>Ni<sub>1−<i>x</i></sub>)<sub>4</sub>Sb<sub>11.5</sub>Sn<sub>0.5</sub> filled skutterudite system (0.40 ≤ <i>x</i> ≤ 0.80) with the aim to determine the equilibrium Sm filling fraction (<i>y</i>) within the considered <i>x</i> range. The relevance of the material lies in its potential thermoelectric properties: in analogy with similar skutterudites systems, these features should in fact result as being improved with respect to the ones of the corresponding Sn-free system thanks to the partial substitution of Sn for Sb, which is expected to lower the phonon thermal conductivity. The results of Rietveld refinements allowed us to study the skutterudite structural properties and to discuss them, adopting a comparative approach with respect to the ones of the Sn-free system Sm<i><sub>y</sub></i>(Fe<i><sub>x</sub></i>Ni<sub>1−<i>x</i></sub>)<sub>4</sub>Sb<sub>12</sub>. Relying on the refined Sm occupancy factors, the <i>p</i>/<i>n</i> crossover is shown to be located at <i>x</i> ~ 0.53, meaning that the introduction of Sn induces an enlargement of the <i>p</i>-region; moreover, at variance with the Sn-free system, the coefficient of thermal expansion does not show any significant mismatch between <i>n</i>- and <i>p</i>-compositions, which should ensure a prolonged lifetime of a device made of <i>n</i>- and <i>p</i>-legs that both derive from the studied system. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:36:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-88303e3294b64e9182864749abe27f9d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4701 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:36:44Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Metals |
| spelling | doaj.art-88303e3294b64e9182864749abe27f9d2023-11-20T01:40:12ZengMDPI AGMetals2075-47012020-05-0110569210.3390/met10050692Compositional Optimization and Structural Properties of the Filled Skutterudite Sm<i><sub>y</sub></i>(Fe<i><sub>x</sub></i>Ni<sub>1−<i>x</i></sub>)<sub>4</sub>Sb<sub>11.5</sub>Sn<sub>0.5</sub>Cristina Artini0Riccardo Carlini1Lara Gigli2Carlo Fanciulli3Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genova, 16146 Genova, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Genova, 16146 Genova, ItalyElettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., 34149 Basovizza (Trieste), ItalyInstitute of Condensed Matter Chemistry and Technologies for Energy, National Research Council, 23900 Lecco, ItalyA compositional and crystallographic study was carried out on the Sm<i><sub>y</sub></i>(Fe<i><sub>x</sub></i>Ni<sub>1−<i>x</i></sub>)<sub>4</sub>Sb<sub>11.5</sub>Sn<sub>0.5</sub> filled skutterudite system (0.40 ≤ <i>x</i> ≤ 0.80) with the aim to determine the equilibrium Sm filling fraction (<i>y</i>) within the considered <i>x</i> range. The relevance of the material lies in its potential thermoelectric properties: in analogy with similar skutterudites systems, these features should in fact result as being improved with respect to the ones of the corresponding Sn-free system thanks to the partial substitution of Sn for Sb, which is expected to lower the phonon thermal conductivity. The results of Rietveld refinements allowed us to study the skutterudite structural properties and to discuss them, adopting a comparative approach with respect to the ones of the Sn-free system Sm<i><sub>y</sub></i>(Fe<i><sub>x</sub></i>Ni<sub>1−<i>x</i></sub>)<sub>4</sub>Sb<sub>12</sub>. Relying on the refined Sm occupancy factors, the <i>p</i>/<i>n</i> crossover is shown to be located at <i>x</i> ~ 0.53, meaning that the introduction of Sn induces an enlargement of the <i>p</i>-region; moreover, at variance with the Sn-free system, the coefficient of thermal expansion does not show any significant mismatch between <i>n</i>- and <i>p</i>-compositions, which should ensure a prolonged lifetime of a device made of <i>n</i>- and <i>p</i>-legs that both derive from the studied system.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/10/5/692thermoelectricsfilled skutteruditescoefficient of thermal expansionpowder X-ray diffractionRietveld methodelectron microscopy |
| spellingShingle | Cristina Artini Riccardo Carlini Lara Gigli Carlo Fanciulli Compositional Optimization and Structural Properties of the Filled Skutterudite Sm<i><sub>y</sub></i>(Fe<i><sub>x</sub></i>Ni<sub>1−<i>x</i></sub>)<sub>4</sub>Sb<sub>11.5</sub>Sn<sub>0.5</sub> Metals thermoelectrics filled skutterudites coefficient of thermal expansion powder X-ray diffraction Rietveld method electron microscopy |
| title | Compositional Optimization and Structural Properties of the Filled Skutterudite Sm<i><sub>y</sub></i>(Fe<i><sub>x</sub></i>Ni<sub>1−<i>x</i></sub>)<sub>4</sub>Sb<sub>11.5</sub>Sn<sub>0.5</sub> |
| title_full | Compositional Optimization and Structural Properties of the Filled Skutterudite Sm<i><sub>y</sub></i>(Fe<i><sub>x</sub></i>Ni<sub>1−<i>x</i></sub>)<sub>4</sub>Sb<sub>11.5</sub>Sn<sub>0.5</sub> |
| title_fullStr | Compositional Optimization and Structural Properties of the Filled Skutterudite Sm<i><sub>y</sub></i>(Fe<i><sub>x</sub></i>Ni<sub>1−<i>x</i></sub>)<sub>4</sub>Sb<sub>11.5</sub>Sn<sub>0.5</sub> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Compositional Optimization and Structural Properties of the Filled Skutterudite Sm<i><sub>y</sub></i>(Fe<i><sub>x</sub></i>Ni<sub>1−<i>x</i></sub>)<sub>4</sub>Sb<sub>11.5</sub>Sn<sub>0.5</sub> |
| title_short | Compositional Optimization and Structural Properties of the Filled Skutterudite Sm<i><sub>y</sub></i>(Fe<i><sub>x</sub></i>Ni<sub>1−<i>x</i></sub>)<sub>4</sub>Sb<sub>11.5</sub>Sn<sub>0.5</sub> |
| title_sort | compositional optimization and structural properties of the filled skutterudite sm i sub y sub i fe i sub x sub i ni sub 1 i x i sub sub 4 sub sb sub 11 5 sub sn sub 0 5 sub |
| topic | thermoelectrics filled skutterudites coefficient of thermal expansion powder X-ray diffraction Rietveld method electron microscopy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/10/5/692 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cristinaartini compositionaloptimizationandstructuralpropertiesofthefilledskutteruditesmisubysubifeisubxsubinisub1ixisubsub4subsbsub115subsnsub05sub AT riccardocarlini compositionaloptimizationandstructuralpropertiesofthefilledskutteruditesmisubysubifeisubxsubinisub1ixisubsub4subsbsub115subsnsub05sub AT laragigli compositionaloptimizationandstructuralpropertiesofthefilledskutteruditesmisubysubifeisubxsubinisub1ixisubsub4subsbsub115subsnsub05sub AT carlofanciulli compositionaloptimizationandstructuralpropertiesofthefilledskutteruditesmisubysubifeisubxsubinisub1ixisubsub4subsbsub115subsnsub05sub |