Thermoelectric Skutterudites

Skutterudites are a class of materials with large structural voids that can be filled by foreign species, resulting in outstanding thermoelectric properties. This book provides a comprehensive account of their fundamental physical properties and applications.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 322 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Skutterudites are a fascinating class of materials with an atomic lattice that contains large structural voids that can be filled by a variety of foreign species, ranging from alkali to alkaline to rare earth ions. These fillers have a unique ability to drastically modify the physical properties of the parent structure, resulting in outstanding thermoelectric properties. Skutterudites are of growing importance and are finding applications in a variety of different fields, including electronics, energy storage, and thermoelectric power generation.

This book provides a comprehensive account of all fundamental physical properties of skutterudites. It begins with an introduction to the basic concepts and theoretical background of these materials, followed by detailed discussions of their structure, properties, and applications. Each major topic is accompanied by introductory sections and a further detailed theoretical treatment is provided in Appendices. The book is supported by many figures and a vast number of relevant references, making it an essential resource for researchers working in materials science, physics, and chemistry, as well as graduate students in these subjects.

Skutterudites are characterized by their unique structure, which consists of a periodic array of metal atoms or ions sandwiched between layers of anions. The size and composition of the anions can vary, allowing for a wide range of physical properties to be achieved. One of the most important properties of skutterudites is their high thermoelectric efficiency, which is a measure of their ability to convert heat into electricity. Skutterudites have the highest thermoelectric efficiency of any known material, with some compounds capable of converting up to 40% of the heat they absorb into electricity.

This high efficiency is due to several factors, including the large structural voids in the skutterudite lattice, which allow for the easy diffusion of electrons and ions. The presence of foreign species in the lattice also affects the electrical properties of skutterudites, as they can modify the band structure and density of states of the host material. Another important property of skutterudites is their magnetic behavior. Many skutterudite compounds exhibit magnetic ordering, which can be used to enhance their magnetic properties and potentially enable their use in magnetic storage devices.

Skutterudites are also of interest in the field of energy storage, as they can be used to store energy in the form of heat or electricity. For example, they can be used in solar cells to convert sunlight into electricity, or in batteries to store energy for use in electronic devices. Skutterudites are also being studied for their potential use in thermoelectric power generation, which is a process of converting heat into electricity using a temperature difference.

In conclusion, skutterudites are a fascinating class of materials with unique physical properties that are of growing importance in a variety of different fields. This book provides a comprehensive account of all fundamental physical properties of skutterudites, making it an essential resource for researchers and students working in materials science, physics, and chemistry.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 254 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367615376