Fabrication of an all-oxide thermoelectric power generator

An oxide thermoelectric device was fabricated using Gd-doped Ca3Co4O9 p-type legs and La-doped CaMnO3 n-type legs on a fin. The power factors of p legs and n legs were 4.8x10(-4) Wm(-1) K-2 and 2.2x10(-4) Wm(-1) K-2 at 700 degreesC in air, respectively. With eight p-n couples the device generated an output power of 63.5 mW under the thermal condition of hot side temperature T-h=773 degreesC and a temperature difference DeltaT=390 degreesC. This device proved to be operable for more than two weeks in air showing high durability. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.