Towards a high thermoelectric performance in CdO ceramics by introducing multiscale scattering centers via ZnCO3 doping

Exploring high performance n-type oxide thermoelectric materials is crucial for developing all oxide thermoelectric generators working in air at high temperatures. In this work, CdO-based thermoelectric ceramics with high ZT were obtained by introducing multiscale phonon scattering centers (point defects, grain boundaries, ZnO precipitations and micro-sized pores) while maintaining moderate power factor via ZnCO3 doping. An optimal ZT value of 0.52 is obtained at 1000 Kin the 1% ZnCO3-doped sample, the highest value reported so far for n-type thermoelectric oxides at the same temperature range.