Work

Mechanism of Rare Earth Incorporation and Crystal Growth of Rare Earth Containing Type-I Clathrates

Year: 2015

Type: article

Abstract: Type-I clathrates possess extremely low thermal conductivities, a property that makes them promising materials for thermoelectric applications. The incorporation of cerium into one such clathrate has recently been shown to lead to a drastic enhancement of the thermopower, another property determining the thermoelectric efficiency. Here we explore the mechanism of the incorporation of rare earth elements into type-I clathrates. Our investigation of the crystal growth and the composition of the phase Ba8–xRExTMySi46–y (RE = rare earth element; TM = Au, Pd, Pt) reveals that the RE content x is mainly governed by two factors, the free cage space and the electron balance.

Source: Crystal Growth & Design

DOI: 10.1021/acs.cgd.5b00461

Authors: Andrey Prokofiev, Robert Svagera, Monika Waas, Matthias Weil, Johannes Bernardi, Silke Paschen

Institution: TU Wien

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Thermoelectric Materials and Devices

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,433

Funders: Austrian Science Fund, Technische Universität Wien, European Research Council, FP7 Ideas: European Research Council