Materials Science Forum, Vol.486-487, 554-557, 2005
Thermoelectric properties of Co1-xNbxSb3 prepared by induction melting
Induction melting was attempted to prepare the undoped and Nb-doped CoSb3 compounds, and their thermoelectric properties were investigated. Single phase delta-CoSb3 Was successfully obtained by induction melting and subsequent annealing at 400 degrees C for 2 hours in vacuum. The positive signs of Seebeck coefficients for all the specimens revealed that Nb atoms acted as p-type dopants by substituting Co atoms. Electrical conductivity decreased and then increased with increasing temperature, indicating mixed behaviors of metallic and semiconducting conductions. Electrical conductivity increased by Nb doping, and it was saturated at high temperature. Maximum value of the thermoelectric power factor was shifted to higher temperature with the increasing amount of Nb doping, mainly originated from the Seebeck coefficient variation.