Thermoelectric property of PbTe coating on copper and nickel

In this work, experimental studies on deposition of thermoelectric metallic alloy material, Pb–Te on copper and nanoporous nickel were carried out. Electrification in the interface of the thermoelectric material/electrolyte was studied. The fundamental mechanisms that govern interface electrification in nanoporous materials were also investigated. Based on the preliminary results, it is found that nanoporous nickel can be prepared using electrochemical dealloying method. The concentration of nitric acid can change the electrochemical reaction mechanism of the dealloying process. The higher the nitric concentration is, the higher the passivity of nickel, and the easier copper to be removed from the Ni45Cu55 alloy. Potential at the electrode can also play an important role in the dealloying process. The dealloying process can be accelerated by increasing the set point of the anodic potential scan. PbTe can be deposited on copper and nanoporous nickel through electroplating. The PbTe coating is more uniform on copper than on nanoporous nickel. The thermopower of PbTe is much stronger than either the pure copper or the nickel–copper alloy. PbTe on nanoporous nickel shows higher Seebeck coefficient than on the pure copper. It is about 50% higher on nanoporous support. The possible explanation is that the electron confinement effect of nanoporous materials causes higher thermoelectric potential.