Thermoelectric devices convert waste heat into usable energy.  The thermoelectric figure of merit, zT, measures the efficiency of a thermoelectric material. Yb14MnSb11 has been successfully synthesized and shown to have a zT~1, which is higher than the state of the art, SiGe, whose zT is maximally 0.6. Yb14MnSb11 crystals can be made by a Sn flux, however, this results in thermoelectrically detrimental Sn remnants in the product, as indicated by electron microprobe analysis (EMPA). When Yb14MnSb11 is synthesized by direct reaction of its elements, there is the side production of the stable but thermoelectrically unfavorable Yb11Sb10. In this study, to bypass the Yb11Sb10 compound and crystals with Sn impurities, Yb4Sb3 and MnSb binaries are synthesized as precursors for Yb14MnSb11. Thermogravimetry and Differential Scanning Calorimetry were used to investigate the temperature in which the binaries react. Resulting products are characterized by XRD and EMPA and results will be presented and discussed.

Synthesis of Yb<sub>14</sub>MnSb<sub>11</sub> from binary phases

239th National Meeting (2010)

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Synthesis of Yb14MnSb11 from binary phases

Synthesis of Yb₁₄MnSb₁₁ from binary phases