Thermoelectric properties of the Ru2Ni2Sb12 ternary skutterudite

The synthesis of the Ru2−xNi2−xSb12 compounds (0≤x ≤0.2), their structural characterization and temperature dependencies of selected transport and thermal properties are reported. At x =0, Ru2−xNi2−xSb12 displays cubic symmetry, space group Im View the MathML source3¯ with lattice parameter a=9.1767(1) Å. From increasing electrical conductivity above 600 K the band gap (Eg∼0.06 eV) was estimated using an Arrhenius plot. Different signs of the Seebeck coefficient (negative) and the Hall coefficient (positive) have been explained as a consequence of a multicarrier transport. The substitution on a cation site, i.e., formation of the Ru2−xNi2−xSb12 ternary skutterudites proved to be effective way in suppressing of the thermal conductivity.