P-Ca3Co4O9/n-Zn0.98Al0.02O module for high temperature thermoelectric generator

Abstract

The thermoelectric generators can generate electrical power from different temperatures of the top and bottom side thermoelectric modules or devices using n - and p - types thermoelectric materials. We synthesized the p-type Ca3Co4O9 and n-type Zn0.98Al0.02O thermoelectric materials by solid-state reaction (SSR) and hot-pressing (HP) methods then measured thermoelectric properties such as Seebeck coefficient, electrical resistivity, and thermal conductivity. The thermoelectric module of π-shape was fabricated 2 pair p-n junction then measured the electrical voltage, power, and efficiency. It was found that we obtained the single phase of Ca3Co4O9 and Zn0.98Al0.02O thermoelectric materials. The thermopower of Ca3Co4O9 and Zn0.98Al0.02O thermoelectric materials are measured by using steady-state method at hot side 976 K. The electricity of thermoelectric cells was increased with increasing temperature difference from 28–603 K. The thermoelectric cells p-n junction 2 pairs generated a maximum voltage about 93.04 mV, power 8 mW and efficiency of 0.23 % at temperature difference of 735 K (hot side 976 K). So, the thermoelectric module has been feasible to fabricate thermoelectric generators and developed a method for fabrication of high stability modules.