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G. Rogl, P. Rogl:
"How nanoparticles can change the figure of merit, ZT, and mechanical properties of skutterudites";
Materials Today Physics, 3 (2017), 1; S. 48 - 69.

Although filled Sb-based skutterudites have a high figure of merit, ZT, a successful route to further increase
ZT is the incorporation of homogeneously dispersed nanoparticles into the thermoelectric matrix
and this way to reduce the lattice thermal conductivity leaving the electrical resistivity and the Seebeck
coefficient almost unchanged.
In this paper we present a critical summary of literature data concerning the preparation methods and
the change of ZT in skutterudite composites with oxides, metals, intermetallics, antimonides, nitrides,
borides, tellurides, silicides and carbon based materials.
As good mechanical properties are substantial for all TE applications, the influence of nanoparticles,
dispersed in the skutterudite matrix, on the hardness, elastic moduli, fracture toughness, compressive
and flexural strength is discussed in this paper and compared to other thermoelectric materials.
Long-term durability of thermoelectric modules, built with p- and n-type materials, essentially depends
on matching coefficients of thermal expansion of each leg-type material in the temperature
gradient used. In case of skutterudites, it is well known that p-type skutterudites have generally a higher
thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) than their n-type counterpart. We showthat dispersed borides can
reduce the CTE of p-type and enhance the CTE of n-type skutterudites.

Nanodispersion Thermoelectricity Mechanical properties Thermal expansion

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mtphys.2017.12.004