Thermoelectric Skutterudites

"In this superbly modern monograph, Uher (Univ. of Michigan) brings extensive research on the materials science of thermoelectricity to bear on specific skutterudite thermoelectrics, most commonly alloys of arsenic or antimony with transition metals (cobalt or nickel). The materials science goal is to maintain high electrical conductivity with low thermal conductivity, thus developing the engineered capability of converting heat to electric current (Seebeck effect) or electric current to heat (Peltier effect) in joined, dissimilar materials, or the Thomson effect in a uniform conductor. Engineering applications, hinging on material availability and the low cost of skutterudites, include converting discarded heat to electricity, or using electricity to achieve refrigeration.

Uher strikes an excellent balance between solid-state physics, materials science, and engineering, in chapters on skutterudite crystal structure, fabrication (including thin film forms), electronic band structure, electronic transport properties, thermal transport, and skutterudite thermoelectric properties. The discussion of figures of merit in the final chapter is insightful, as are those on means of reducing thermal conductivity and on pressure effects. Each chapter includes an up-to-date bibliography. Several aspects of thermoelectric research, e.g., comparing other materials with skutterudites, economic aspects of thermoelectricity, or applications of machine learning in identifying promising alloys, are only mentioned. Readers need background on solid-state physics, crystal structures, and phase diagrams. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students, faculty, and professionals."

-J. Lambropoulos, University of Rochester in CHOICE, April 2022