Yb14MnSb11 is currently one the highest efficiency P-type thermoelectric materials for high temperature applications. However, the common Sn-flux synthesis is not easily scalable, produces a large amount of waste, and creates a product containing impurities that result in a reduction of thermoelectric efficiency. A new synthesis has been developed utilizing mechanical alloying to combine the elements and spark plasma sintering (SPS) to densify the powdered product. This method allows for better optimization of carrier concentration through precise synthetic control of various elemental substitutions. Through partial substitution of elements such as Ce for Yb or Te for Sb, the carrier concentration can be reduced and the thermoelectric properties improved. The thermoelectric properties of materials produced by this new synthesis with varying concentrations of substitutional dopants will be presented and compared with materials produced by Sn-flux.

Tuning Yb<sub>14</sub>MnSb<sub>11</sub> with a new synthetic method

245th National Meeting (2013)

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Tuning Yb14MnSb11 with a new synthetic method

Tuning Yb₁₄MnSb₁₁ with a new synthetic method