Filled Skutterudites for Advanced Thermoelectric Applications

Abstract

A low-cost filled skutterudite for advanced thermoelectric applications is disclosed. The filled skutterudite uses the relatively low-cost mischmetal, either alone or in addition to rare earth elements, as a starting material for guest or filler atoms.

1 . A filled skutterudite comprising a chemical composition of G y M 4 X 12 , where G comprises mischmetal as a source of guest atoms; wherein mischmetal comprises at least two rare earth elements and one or more non-rare earth impurities, y is a filling fraction of said guest atoms, M represents transition metal atoms, and X represents atoms from groups IVA-VIA of the periodic table. 
     
     
         2 . The filled skutterudite of  claim 1  wherein said chemical composition is Mm y Co 4 Sb 12  (0<y≦1), where Mm is mischmetal. 
     
     
         3 . The filled skutterudite of  claim 1  wherein M is a transition metal selected from the group consisting of Mn, Tc, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag and Au. 
     
     
         4 . The filled skutterudite of  claim 3  wherein M is Co, Rh or Ir. 
     
     
         5 . The filled skutterudite of  claim 4  wherein M is Co. 
     
     
         6 . The filled skutterudite of  claim 1  wherein X is an atom selected from the group consisting of C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, N, P, As, Sb, Bi, O, S, Se, Te and Po. 
     
     
         7 . The filled skutterudite of  claim 6  wherein X is P, As or Sb. 
     
     
         8 . The filled skutterudite of  claim 7  wherein X is Sb. 
     
     
         9 . A filled skutterudite comprising a chemical composition of G y M 4 X 12 , where G represents mischmetal alone or in combination with at least one rare earth element, as a source of guest atoms; wherein mischmetal comprises at least two rare earth elements and one or more non-rare earth impurities, y is a filling fraction of said guest atoms, M represents transition metal atoms, and X represents atoms from groups IVA-VIA of the periodic table. 
     
     
         10 . The filled skutterudite of  claim 9  wherein said rare earth element is a rare earth element selected from the group consisting of Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and combinations of these atoms. 
     
     
         11 . The filled skutterudite of  claim 9  wherein M is a transition metal selected from the group consisting of Mn, Tc, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag and Au. 
     
     
         12 . The filled skutterudite of  claim 11  wherein M is Co, Rh or Ir. 
     
     
         13 . The filled skutterudite of  claim 12  wherein M is Co. 
     
     
         14 . The filled skutterudite of  claim 9  wherein X is an atom selected from the group consisting of C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, N, P, As, Sb, Bi, O, S, Se, Te and Po. 
     
     
         15 . The filled skutterudite of  claim 14  wherein X is P, As or Sb. 
     
     
         16 . The filled skutterudite of  claim 15  wherein X is Sb.