Influence of R3+ ion sizes on the thermoelectric properties of RBaCo4O7+δ ceramics

Abstract

The influence of [Formula: see text] ion sizes on the electrical resistivity, Seebeck coefficients, thermal conductivity and [Formula: see text] values of [Formula: see text] prepared by the solid-state reaction method was investigated from 373 K to 973 K. The electrical resistivity decreases with decreasing [Formula: see text] ion sizes. Both the electrical resistivity and the Seebeck coefficients have a transition at about 630 K. Especially, the transition phenomenon disappears gradually with decreasing [Formula: see text] ion sizes, and is attributed to the oxygen adsorption of [Formula: see text]. The [Formula: see text] values increase with rising temperature or decreasing [Formula: see text] ion sizes. The [Formula: see text] with the smallest [Formula: see text] size has the maximum [Formula: see text] value that reaches 0.1 at 973 K.