Segmented Thermoelectric Oxide-Based Module for High-Temperature Waste Heat Harvesting

2015

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…