Synthesis of Ca3Co4O9 ceramics by citric acid complex and hydrothermal hot-pressing processes and investigation of its thermoelectric properties

Abstract

Ca3Co4O9 ceramics powders were synthesized by the citric acid complex (CAC) method and consolidated by the hydrothermal hot-pressing (HHP) technique. The observation by the scanning electron microscope indicated that the powders obtained by the CAC process showed plate-like grains. The density and the Lotgering factor, which was estimated from the X-ray diffraction data, of the sintered body increased with an increase of the operating pressure during the HHP process. The electrical resistivity was much reduced with an increase of the operating pressure, but the Seebeck coefficient was hardly affected by the HHP conditions. As a result, the sample treated with the HHP under the condition of 573 K, 200 MPa and 3 h showed a maximum power factor. © 2007 The Thermoelectrics Society of Japan.