Valence fluctuating thermoelectric high-borides with YCrB4 type of structure

该项目结合了CeCrB_4、YbCrB_4和Y1-xCexCrB_4和Y1-xYbxCrB_4（x = 0.2，0.4，0.6，0.8）金属间硼化物的合成、表征、晶体结构细化以及价态涨落和热电性能的研究。这种电子和空穴掺杂与Ce和Yb原子的价态波动相结合，预计将显着提高半导体YCrB 4硼化物的热电性能，并获得适合于在高温制度下工作的热电发电机中的应用的材料。结合固态化学和固态物理的方法，我们相信可以更深入地了解两种现象之间的相互作用，如价态波动和热电性。这一认识将有助于开发硼基热电材料的新途径。

The proposed project combines syntheses, characterization, crystal structure refinement as well as study of valence fluctuations and thermoelectric properties of CeCrB4, YbCrB4 and the substitution series Y1-xCexCrB4 and Y1-xYbxCrB4 (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) intermetallic borides. Such electron- and hole-doping combined with valence fluctuations of Ce- and Yb-atoms is expected to significantly improve the thermoelectric performance of the semiconducting YCrB4 boride and to obtain a material suitable for the applications in thermoelectrical generators working in high-temperature regime. Joining approaches from solid state chemistry and solid state physics we believe to get deeper insight into the understanding of the interplay between two such phenomena as valence fluctuations and thermoelectricity. Such an understanding will contribute to the development of new routes in the search of boron-based thermoelectric materials.