METHOD FOR PRODUCING SKUTTERUDITE COSB3 THERMOELECTRIC MATERIALS

摘要

A skutterudite CoSb3 thermoelectric material producing method is provided to improve the thermoelectric characteristic like a seebeck coefficient, electric conductivity, and thermoelectric power factor by producing skutterudite CoSb3 by an arc melting method and changing a microstructure by annealing the skutterudite CoSb3 under an optimal condition. The skutterudite CoSb3 thermoelectric material producing method comprises the steps of: arc-melting Co(Cobalt) and Sb(Stibium) elements under the atmosphere of Ar(Argon); executing re-melting more than one time to prevent the homogenization and segregation of a composition; and annealing the CoSb3 produced by an arc melting method. The CoSb3 is annealed at 300-500 deg.C. The CoSb3 has a microstructure without pores or cracks and good thermoelectric characteristic if the CoSb3 is annealed at 400 deg.C for 24 hours.