Thermal conductivity of skutterudite thin films and superlattices

Experimental results on the temperature-dependent cross-plane thermal condu ctivity of skutterudite thin films are presented. The films examined includ e IrSb3, CoSb3, and Ir0.5Co0.5Sb3 single layers, and IrSb3/CoSb3 superlatti ces that are grown by pulsed-laser deposition. A differential 3 omega metho d is used to measure the cross-plane thermal conductivity of these films fr om 80 to 300 K. The experimental results show a significant reduction in th eir thermal conductivity values compared to those of their corresponding bu lk samples reported in literature. Possible mechanisms contributing to the thermal conductivity reduction are discussed. (C) 2000 American Institute o f Physics. [S0003-6951(00)00649-5].