Thermoelectric materials, which can convert heat into electricity, have attracted much attention in potential applications for waste-heat to electricity conversion. Yb14MnSb11 is the only known high efficiency p-type thermoelectric material at high temperatures. Substitution of other rare earth elements for Yb provides a method to optimize its thermoelectric property and study its magnetic properties. Single crystals of Yb14-xRExMnSb11 (RE = Pr and Sm, 0=x=1) were synthesized by Sn flux. Structural study and magnetic measurement were carried out on the single crystals. The Pr is site selective in the structure. As x increases, the ferromagnetic ordering temperature is reduced while the saturation moment falls into a small range. Powder samples of Yb14-xRExMnSb11 (RE = Pr and Sm, 0=x=1) have been synthesized by annealing at 1375K for one week. Electron microprobe was used to verify the molecular formula. Thermoelectric properties of these samples were measured to 1275K. The zT value of these samples are 10% to 20% percentage larger than Yb14MnSb11.

Tuning thermoelectric properties of Yb14MnSb11 by RE substitution: Synthesis, structure and thermoelectric properties of Yb14-xRExMnSb11(RE=Pr and Sm, 0<x<1)

247th National Meeting (2014)

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