Evolution of Thermoelectric and Oxidation Properties in Lu-Substituted Yb₁₄MnSb₁₁

Yb14MnSb11 is one of the state-of-the-art high-temperature p-type thermoelectric materials with reported zTs of 1.2–1.3 at 1273 K. Site substitution of Yb14MnSb11 provides a means to control carrier concentration and impacts the oxidation kinetics. Substitution of Lu3+ for Yb2+ in Yb14MnSb11 single crystals has been shown to provide faster oxidation kinetics compared with the pristine phase, and it has been speculated that this may lead to surface passivation. Polycrystalline samples of Yb14–xLuxMnSb11 were synthesized from the elements and through a route utilizing YbH2, MnSb, and Yb4Sb3 as reactive precursors. The solubility of Lu was found to be less than x = 0.5, and at that composition and above LuSb impurities are observed in the powder X-ray diffraction. Because Lu3+ is substituting for Yb2+ in a p-type system, there is an increase in both the electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficient with Lu substitution. As Yb14MnSb11 has been predicted to be optimally doped ∼1.5 × 1021 h+ cm–3, this reduction in carrier concentration in the solid solution of Yb14–xLuxMnSb11 decreases the peak zT. Oxidation of Yb13.7Lu0.3MnSb11 as a function of temperature was studied. At low temperatures, the Lu-substituted sample may have improved oxidation resistance through forming a passivating oxide film on the surface.