Enhanced thermoelectric performance in aluminum-doped zinc oxide by porous architecture and nanoinclusions. Issue 6 (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Shuang; Gu, Huazhi; Li, Zhouhui; Huang, Ao
• Is Part Of: Journal of the European Ceramic Society. Volume 41:Issue 6(2021)
• Page Start: 3466
• Page End: 3472
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: Aluminum doped zinc oxide -- Thermoelectric performance -- Porous architecture -- Nanoclusion -- Thermal conductivity; Ceramic materials -- Periodicals; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Matériaux céramiques -- Périodiques; Composites -- Périodiques; Ceramic materials; Composite materials; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 666.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2021.01.026
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0955-2219

Abstract

Abstract: As a promising thermoelectric material, aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) exhibits high thermal conductivity, which limits its use in high-temperature thermoelectric applications. Here, we report an effective route for forming a porous architecture and nanoinclusions by introducing nano-SiC to reduce the thermal conductivity. The simultaneous formation of a porous architecture and nanoinclusions promotes enhanced phonon scattering, resulting in fairly low thermal conductivity of approximately 3.3 W⋅ m −1 ⋅ K −1 . Meanwhile, the Seebeck coefficient shows the significant improvement due to energy filtration effect caused by porous architecture and nanoinclusions. The resultant dimensionless figure of merit of approximately 0.2 at 1050 K was 1.5 times higher than that of AZO ceramic without nano-SiC, which is attributed to the combined factors of increased Seebeck coefficient and reduced thermal conductivity.