La0.95Sr0.05CoO3: An efficient room-temperature thermoelectric oxide

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that La0.95Sr0.05CoO3 exhibits promising thermoelectric properties at room temperature, highlighting oxides as viable candidates for thermoelectric cooling and emphasizing the importance of theoretical guidance for future material development.

Contribution

The paper provides experimental thermoelectric measurements of La0.95Sr0.05CoO3 and underscores its potential for room-temperature applications, suggesting directions for theoretical and material improvements.

Findings

Thermoelectric figure of merit of 0.18 at room temperature

Oxides are promising for thermoelectric cooling

Need for theoretical calculations to guide material design

Abstract

We present measurements of electrical resistivity, thermal conductivity and thermopower of polycrystalline Sr-doped LaCoO3 with composition La0.95Sr0.05CoO3. Our data show that the investigated compound exhibits a very respectable room temperature thermoelectric figure of merit value of 0.18. Our results not only show that oxides are promising candidates for thermoelectric cooling applications, but also point towards the need for careful theoretical calculations that will serve as a guide in producing the next generation of thermoelectric materials.