Preparation and characterization of new thermoelectric clathrates containing trivalent rare earths and mixed acceptors

• Grant number: 14/20365-6
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2015
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Marcos de Abreu Avila
• Grantee: Fabiana Rodrigues Arantes
• Home Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 11/19924-2 - Study and development of advanced novel materials: electronic, magnetic and nanostructured: an interdisciplinary approach, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 17/01827-7 - Thermoelectric characterization of singlecrystalline type-I clathrates Ba8GayMzGe46-y-z (M = Au, Ag, Cu) and Ba8-xRxGayAgzGe46-y-z (R = La, Ce, Eu), BE.EP.PD

Abstract

This project proposes the growth of single crystals of novel type-I intermetallic clathrates by the self-fluz technique, especially in families based on germanium (Ge46) containing mixed acceptors (e.g. Ba8GaxAuyGe46-x-y) and also the introduction of trivalent rare earth ions as guests (e.g. Ba6La2Ga12Au2Ge32). We will investigate the structural, thermodynamic and transport properties of the grown crystals, aiming at better understanding of the low-energy anharmonic vibrations (rattling) presented by guest ions in these families of compounds with "cage-like" structures, as well as the tuning of one or more of their relevant thermoelectric properties to increase the efficiency of their heat-electricity conversion ability. We will also conduct, as secondary plans, collaborative works with national and international groups specialized in advanced microscopic characterization of such properties. The realization of this project in two years will contribute to a significant advance in the availability of materials for use in thermoelectric conversion devices.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ARANTES, FABIANA R.; ARISTIZABAL-GIRALDO, DEISY; MAYOH, DANIEL A.; YAMANE, YU; YANG, CHONGLI; LEES, MARTIN R.; OSORIO-GUILLEN, JORGE M.; TAKABATAKE, TOSHIRO; AVILA, MARCOS A. Superconductivity in monocrystalline YNiSi3 and LuNiSi3. Physical Review B, v. 99, n. 22 JUN 11 2019. Web of Science Citations: 0.

TARTAGLIA, R.; ARANTES, F. R.; GALDINO, C. W.; RIGITANO, D.; KANEKO, U. F.; AVILA, M. A.; GRANADO, E. Magnetic structure and magnetoelastic coupling of GdNiSi3 and TbNiSi3. Physical Review B, v. 99, n. 9 MAR 20 2019. Web of Science Citations: 0.

ARANTES, FABIANA R.; ARISTIZABAL-GIRALDO, DEISY; MASUNAGA, SUELI H.; COSTA, FANNY N.; FERREIRA, FABIO F.; TAKABATAKE, TOSHIRO; MENDONCA-FERREIRA, LETICIE; RIBEIRO, RAQUEL A.; AVILA, MARCOS A. Structure, magnetism, and transport of single-crystalline RNiSi3 (R = Y, Gd-Tm, Lu). PHYSICAL REVIEW MATERIALS, v. 2, n. 4 APR 6 2018. Web of Science Citations: 3.