Segmented Thermoelectric Oxide-Based Module for High-Temperature Waste Heat Harvesting
We report a high-performance thermoelectric (TE) oxide-based module using the segmentation of half-Heusler Ti_(0.3)Zr_(0.35)Hf_(0.35)CoSb_(0.8)Sn_(0.2) and misfit-layered cobaltite Ca_3Co_4O_(9+δ) as the p-leg and 2 % Al-doped ZnO as the n-leg. The maximum output power of a 4-couple segmented module at ΔT=700 K attains a value of approximately 6.5 kW m^(−2), which is three times higher than that of the best reported non-segmented oxide module. The TE properties of individual legs, as well as the interfacial contact resistances, were characterized as a function of temperature. Numerical modeling was used to predict the efficiency and to evaluate the influence of the electrical and thermal lo…
High performance p-type segmented leg of misfit-layered cobaltite and half-Heusler alloy
In this study, a segmented p-type leg of doped misfit-layered cobaltite Ca_(2.8)Lu_(0.15)Ag_(0.05)Co_4O_(9+δ) and half-Heusler Ti_(0.3)Zr_(0.35)Hf_(0.35)CoSb_(0.8)Sn_(0.2) alloy was fabricated and characterized. The thermoelectric properties of single components, segmented leg, and the electrical contact resistance of the joint part were measured as a function of temperature. The output power generation characteristics of segmented legs were characterized in air under various temperature gradients, ΔT, with the hot side temperature up to 1153 K. At ΔT ≈ 756 K, the maximum conversion efficiency reached a value of ∼5%, which is about 65% of that expected from the materials without parasitic l…