Characterization of ZnO thermoelectric ceramics and their microstructures consolidated by two-step spark plasma sintering

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Abstract

Zinc oxide (ZnO) thermoelectric ceramics were consolidated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) along with one-step/two-step sintering (OS/TS) temperature profiles, the latter employing a strategy of heating to a higher temperature (T1) followed by prolonged sintering at a lower temperature (T2) for densification while preventing grain growth. In the first step, the temperatures and holding times were 1100 and 1150 °C for 15 and 5 min, respectively, and the second-step was maintained at 1050 °C for 30, 60, and 120 min. By combining TS and SPS processes (TS-SPS), high relative densities of 91.494.9 % were achieved without significant grain growth. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) revealed a noticeable grain-growth suppression of 56 % for the TS-SPS sample with T1 = 1100 °C. The highest power factor of 7.8 × 1015 W K12 m11 was achieved for the TS-SPS ZnO, while the lowest thermal conductivity of 4.7 W K11 m11 was achieved for the OS-SPS ZnO, attaining a figure of merit (ZT) of 0.017 at 775 °C.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)889-894
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of the Ceramic Society of Japan
Volume130
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 1 2022

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Ceramics and Composites
  • Chemistry(all)
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Materials Chemistry

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