Thermoelectric properties of Nb-doped SrTiO3 ceramics enhanced by potassium titanate nanowires addition

Nb-doped SrTiO3 thermoelectric ceramic composites with potassium titanate (KTO) nanowires addition were fabricated by the pressure-less sintering method in an Ar atmosphere. KTO addition significantly reduced the thermal conductivity and enhanced the electrical conductivity. Meanwhile, the Seebeck coefficient was almost independent of KTO addition, thus, enhancing the dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit, ZT. The sample with 3 wt % KTO addition gave the maximum ZT of 0.34 at 900 K. The reason for the enhanced thermoelectric properties by KTO addition was also investigated. (C)2010 The Ceramic Society of Japan. All rights reserved.