Yttrium oxide decoration facilitated optimization of n-type skutterudites for enhanced thermoelectric performance

Skutterudites (SKDs) are promising thermoelectric (TE) materials due to their cost-effectiveness and favorable electrical properties. However, their high thermal conductivity limits thermoelectric conversion efficiency. Herein, Y 2 O 3 nanoparticles (NPs)-decorated n-type Yb 0.3 Co 4 Sb 12 were prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The heterointerfaces created by Y 2 O 3 nanoparticles enhance charge carrier localization through O-Sb hybridization and O-Co bonding, which increases the Seebeck coefficient. Additionally, heterointerfaces scatter phonons, reducing thermal conductivity. Consequently, a figure of merit ( ZT ) value of ∼1.48 at 773 K and an average ZT ave of ∼1.0 (293 ∼ 823 K) were achieved in this work.