Open AccessMagnéli oxides as promising <em>n</em>-type thermoelectrics
Author(s) -
Gregor Kieslich,
Wolfgang Tremel
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
aims materials science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.367
H-Index - 16
eISSN - 2372-0484
pISSN - 2372-0468
DOI - 10.3934/matersci.2014.4.184
Subject(s) - thermoelectric materials , thermoelectric effect , materials science , context (archaeology) , oxide , titanium oxide , cobalt oxide , tungsten , engineering physics , condensed matter physics , chemical engineering , metallurgy , physics , thermodynamics , paleontology , engineering , biology
The discovery of a large thermopower in cobalt oxides in 1997 lead to a surge of interest in oxides for thermoelectric application. Whereas conversion efficiencies of p-type oxides can compete with non-oxide materials, n-type oxides show significantly lower thermoelectric performances. In this context so-called Magnéli oxides have recently gained attention as promising n-type thermoelectrics. A combination of crystallographic shear and intrinsic disorder lead to relatively low thermal conductivities and metallic-like electrical conductivities in Magnéli oxides. Current peak-zT values of 0.3 around 1100 K for titanium and tungsten Magnéli oxides are encouraging for future research. Here, we put Magnéli oxides into context of n-type oxide thermoelectrics and give a perspective where future research can bring us