Thermoelectric properties in double-filled skutterudites InxNdyCo4Sb12

Double-filled skutterudites InxNdyCo4Sb12 have been synthesized by the inductive melting method. The thermal conductivity of these compounds is significantly depressed as compared to that of unfilled CoSb3, while their Seebeck coefficient is remarkably enhanced. We explore simultaneously enhancing the power factor and thermoelectric figure of merit ZT through Nd and In double filling. The attained largest power factor 3.2 m Wm−1 K−2 (360 K) is comparable to Ba and In double-filled skutterudites which possess very high ZT values. ZT=0.11 achieved in In0.09Nd0.03Co4Sb12.16 and In0.16Nd0.06Co4Sb11.93 at 360 K is about two times larger than that of In single-filled skutterudites.