Synthesis and Characterization of Nd-Doped Calcium Bismuth Cobaltites for Thermoelectric Applications

Abstract

Thermoelectricity is the best technology for converting wasted heat into clean electrical energy. Calcium Bismuth cobaltites Ca2.7Bi0.3-xNdxCo4O9+⸹ was synthesized using WOWs Sol-gel method with (x=0.0,0.05) doped with Neodymium. A structural study was carried out using the X-rays diffraction (XRD), which confirmed the Monoclinic structure of all the prepared samples. The Electrical properties were studied by using two-probe method. The thermal transport properties of the samples were measured at room temperature using the Advantageous transient plane source (ATPS) method. At room temperature thermal conductivity was measured. Seebeck coefficient as a function of temperature measurement revealed that doping Neodymium considerably increases the value of the Seebeck coefficient when compared to previously published values. At the end we measured the figure of merit (ZT).