Synthesis and Characterization of New Ceramic Thermoelectrics Implemented in a Thermoelectric Oxide Module

Novel thermoelectric oxides were developed, produced, and characterized to demonstrate their promising thermoelectric conversion potential in a thermoelectric converter. Four-leg thermoelectric oxide modules were fabricated by combining p - and n -type oxide thermoelements made of pressed polycrysta...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of electronic materials 2010-09, Vol.39 (9), p.1696-1703
Main Authors: Tomeš, P., Robert, R., Trottmann, M., Bocher, L., Aguirre, M. H., Bitschi, A., Hejtmánek, J., Weidenkaff, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Characterization and Evaluation of Materials
Chemical compounds
Chemistry and Materials Science
Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties
Conductivity phenomena in semiconductors and insulators
Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science
rheology
Electricity
Electronic transport in condensed matter
Electronics and Microelectronics
Exact sciences and technology
Heat conductivity
Instrumentation
Materials Science
Optical and Electronic Materials
Other materials
Physics
Scanning electron microscopy
Solid State Physics
Specific materials
Thermodynamics
Thermoelectric and thermomagnetic effects
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Summary:Novel thermoelectric oxides were developed, produced, and characterized to demonstrate their promising thermoelectric conversion potential in a thermoelectric converter. Four-leg thermoelectric oxide modules were fabricated by combining p - and n -type oxide thermoelements made of pressed polycrystalline GdCo 0.95 Ni 0.05 O 3 and CaMn 0.98 Nb 0.02 O 3 , respectively. In these modules, the p - and n -type thermoelements were connected electrically in series and thermally in parallel. The materials were joined by electrical contacts consisting of a Ag/CuO composite material. Fairly good thermal contacts were ensured by pressing the thermoelements between alumina substrates. Cross-sections of the alumina/Ag–CuO mixture/thermoelement interface were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The temperature distribution across the module was monitored using K-type thermocouples and a micro-infrared (IR) camera. The open-circuit voltage and the load voltages of the module were measured up to a temperature difference of Δ T  = 500 K while keeping the temperature of the cold side at 300 K. The output power and internal resistance were calculated. The characteristics of the module evaluated from electrical measurements were compared with respective values of the p - and n -type leg materials. An output power of 0.04 W at Δ T  = 500 K led to a power density of ~0.125 W/cm 3 , where the volume of thermoelectric material was determined by a cross-section of 4 mm × 4 mm and a leg length of 5 mm.
ISSN:0361-5235
1543-186X
DOI:10.1007/s11664-010-1214-4