OPTIMIZATION OF THERMOELECTRIC PROPERTIES BY <font>Cu</font> SUBSTITUTION IN <font>LaCoO</font>3 CERAMICS

The thermoelectric properties of LaCo 1-x Cu x O 3-δ ceramics are theoretically analyzed, it is observed that thermoelectric figure of merit ZT ( = S2σT/κ) is maximized by Cu substitution in LaCo 1-x Cu x O 3-δ at x = 0.15. The lattice thermal conductivity (κ ph ) and phonon drag thermoelectric power [Formula: see text] were estimated by the scattering of phonons with defects, grain boundaries, electrons and phonon umklapp scattering to evaluate the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT. The Mott expression is used to estimate the electron diffusive thermoelectric power [Formula: see text] using Fermi energy as electron free parameter, [Formula: see text] shows linear temperature dependence. The electron contribution to thermal conductivity (κe) is estimated using temperature-dependent electron relaxation time. We found that Cu substitution increases the phonon scattering with grain boundaries and defects which significantly decrease the thermal conductivity and subsequently increase the thermoelectric power. The present numerical analysis of thermoelectric properties will help in designing more efficient thermoelectric materials for thermoelectric applications.