Synthesis and characterization of novel cobalt oxide based semiconductor nanostructures for thermoelectric applications

Abstract

newline The thermoelectric power generation mainly depends on three newlinefundamental thermodynamic effects - the Seebeck, Thomson and Peltier newlineeffects. All three effects are related to heat transport in a material by the charge newlinecarriers i.e., electrons or holes. The performance of thermoelectric material is newlinegoverned by the figure of merit, ZT = T where S is the Seebeck Coefficient, newlineabsolute temperature. High ZT can be achieved either by increasing the newlineSeebeck coefficient or electrical conductivity and reducing the thermal newlineconductivity. But it is difficult to attain high electrical conductivity with a low newlinethermal conductivity as both are directly proportional.