Improved thermoelectric properties in solid state microwave of Zn1-xYbxSb compound by Yb for Zn substitution

Abstract

In this research, the Zn-Yb-Sb materials in the form Zn_1-xYb_xSb; x = 0.02 to 0.8, were composed by a solid-state microwave method. These samples were examined to determine the crystal structure by XRD analysis, which indexed to the orthorhombic phase. The dominant peak (112) had a clearly shift in Bragg angle from 28.536° to 28.784° with increasing Yb content. The Yb content (x) effects on the thermoelectric properties (TE) was measured at the temperature reach to 500 K. Increased the Yb content (the sample with x = 0.8) in Zn_1-xYb_xSb caused an increase in the Seebeck coefficient (486 μV/K at 433 K) and a decrease in each of the hole concentration (3.02 × 10²¹ cm⁻³) and the electrical conductivity (5320 S/m). Ascribing to the increased Seebeck coefficient, the higher value of the power factor measured in this research was 1257 μW/mK² at 473K for the sample of Zn_0.92Yb_0.08Sb (x = 0.08).). These experimental results suggest that a clear idea of the application of the Zn_1-xYb_xSb for TE modules.