A comprehensive study on improved power materials for high-temperature thermoelectric generators

• Published in: Journal of power sources 2019-01, Vol.410-411, p.143-151
• Main Authors: Bittner, Michael, Kanas, Nikola, Hinterding, Richard, Steinbach, Frank, Räthel, Jan, Schrade, Matthias, Wiik, Kjell, Einarsrud, Mari-Ann, Feldhoff, Armin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ca3Co4O9; Energy conversion; Oxides; Power factor; Thermoelectric generator; Thermoelectricity
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.10.076

Dense Ca3Co4O9-NaxCoO2-Bi2Ca2Co2O9 (CCO-NCO-BCCO) nanocomposites were produced from sol-gel derived Ca2.25Na0.3Bi0.35Tb0.1Co4O9 powder by four methods: Hot-pressing (HP), spark plasma sintering (SPS) and pressureless sintering in air or O2 atmosphere. Nanocomposites from HP and SPS revealed nanosized grains and showed a thermoelectric power factor of 4.8 and 6.6 μW ⋅ cm−1⋅ K−2, respectively, at 1073 K in air. A dense 2D nanocomposite with structures on multiple length scales and enhanced thermoelectric properties was obtained from pressureless sintering in O2 atmosphere. The resulting 2D nanocomposite enabled the simultaneous increase in isothermal electrical conductivity σ and Seebeck coefficient α, and showed a thermoelectric power factor of 8.2 μW ⋅ cm−1⋅ K−2 at 1073 K in air. The impact of materials with enhanced electrical conductivity and power factor on the electrical power output of thermoelectric generators was verified in prototypes. A high electrical power output and power density of 22.7 mW and 113.5 mW ⋅cm−2, respectively, were obtained, when a hot-side temperature of 1073 K and a temperature difference of 251 K were applied. Different p- and n-type materials were used to verify the effect of the thermoelectric figure-of-merit zT and power factor on the performance of thermoelectric generators. [Display omitted] •Dense nanocomposites of high electrical conductivity, thermoelectric power factor.•Highly aligned, semi-coherently grown 2D nanostructures built a 3D bulk material.•Co-doped In2O3 of high electrical conductivity and thermoelectric power factor.•The Ioffe plot is suitable to evaluate applicability of materials power generation.•Designed power materials maximize power output of thermoelectric generators.