Solvothermal Synthesis, Structure and Optical Property of Nanosized CoSb3 Skutterudite.

Binary skutterudite CoSb3 nanoparticles were synthesized by solvothermal method. The nanostructuring of CoSb3 material was achieved by the inclusion of various kinds of additives. X-ray diffraction examination indicated the formation of the cubic phase of CoSb3. Structural analysis by transmission electron microscopy analysis further confirmed the formation of crystalline CoSb3 nanoparticles with high purity. With the assistance of additives, CoSb3 nanoparticles with size as small as 10 nm were obtained. The effect of the nanostructure of CoSb3 on the UV-visible absorption and luminescence was studied. The nanosized CoSb3 skutterudite may find application in developing thermoelectric devices with better efficiency.