NiO-based thermoelectric materials

The thermoelectric oxide materials were developed especially for high temperature applications in air. Thermoelectric properties of ceramic samples of nickel oxide doped with lithium are studied at high temperature up to 1280 K in air. The substitution of lithium for nickel atoms in cubic nickel oxide lattice results in a high thermoelectric power factor over a wide temperature range. Furthermore, Li substitution decreased the thermal conductivity, resulting in an increase of the thermoelectric figure of merit. The samples doped with sodium also showed similar high temperature thermoelectric properties. Compared with other thermoelectric materials at high temperature, the ZT value of the sample is still half of that of silicide materials, but we suggest nickel oxide as a new candidate high temperature thermoelectric material.