Enhancement of thermoelectric figure of merit by incorporation of large single crystals in Ca3Co4O9 bulk materials

Having recently succeeded in synthesizing large single crystals of (Ca2CoO3)CoO2 (Co-349) with superior thermoelectric properties using a modified flux method, we have prepared a composite material of Co-349 powder and single crystals and examined its thermoelectric properties. The electrical conductivity sigma of this composite, which contained 20 wt.% single crystals, was higher than that of a sample without the single crystals. While the achievable effect has yet to be fully realized, improved grain alignment and the effect of current bypassing grain boundaries through the large single crystals in the composite are thought to cause the increasing sigma which consequently results in an enhanced thermoelectric figure of merit of about 0.56 at 973 K in air.