Detailed low temperature studies on thermoelectric performance of K-doped Bi₂Ca₂Co₂O_y ceramics fibers

Abstract

The effect of K substitution for Ca in Bi2Ca2-xKxCo2Oy (x= 0.0, 0.05,0.075, 0.10, and 0.125) thermoelectric ceramics, produced via laser floating zone (LFZ) method, have been systematically investigated. XRD patterns are quite similar for all samples and main peaks in the patterns correspond to reflection planes of the thermoelectric phase together with small amount of secondary phases. SEM micrographs revealed well oriented grains along the growth direction, and the presence of three different contrasts, associated through EDS to different phases, namely, black (Co oxide), white (Bi poor phase) and grey (Bi2Ca2Co1.7Oy TE phase). It was also seen that the amount of secondary phases diminishes with K-increase. The room-temperature resistivity values sharply decrease from 0.75 mΩ.m for the undoped sample to 0.44 mΩ.m for the 0.05 K-doped one, increasing for higher doping. Seebeck coefficient also decreases from 190 μV/K in the pristine sample, to 160 μV/K in all the K-doped ones, at 390 K. Thermal conductivity increases with temperature up to around 250 K, decreasing at higher temperatures. Thermal conductivity at 390 K decreases from 1.1 W/K-m in the pristine sample to lower values by K-doping, reaching the minimum, 0.9 W/K-m, in the 0.125 K-doped one. As a result, the highest ZT value of has been determined in 0.05 K-doped sample, around 0.021 at 390 K.