Thermoelectric Properties of RuSb2Te Ternary Skutterudites

Polycrystalline samples of the RuSb₂Te ternary skutterudite compound were prepared by the powder metallurgy method, and the influence of various types of doping on its thermoelectric properties was studied. The phase purity of the prepared samples was checked by means of powder x-ray diffraction, and their compositions were checked by electron probe x-ray microanalysis. Hot-pressed p-type samples were characterized by measurements of electrical conductivity, Hall coefficient, Seebeck coefficient, and thermal conductivity. Various doping strategies, i.e., cation substitution (Ru_0.95Fe_0.05Sb₂Te), anion substitution (RuSb₂Sn_0.1Te_0.9) or partial filling of voids of the ternary skutterudite structure (Yb_0.05RuSb₂Te), were investigated, and the influence of the dopants on the changes of the resulting transport, thermoelectric, and thermal properties is described.