Enhanced thermoelectric properties of Sr0.9La0.1TiO3 ceramics fabricated by SPS with nanosized Ti addition

Sr0.9La0.1TiO3/20 wt%Ti ceramics with enhanced thermoelectric properties were prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS) and nanosized Ti metal powders were used as additive. In the sintering process, a large proportion of Ti was oxidized, promoting the volatilization of lattice oxygen and creating more V center dot center dot O. Part of sintering aid -Bi2O3 was reduced to metal Bi particles which facilitate carriers transport by forming an electron transport network. These two factors contribute to electrical resistivity reduction. The lowest electrical resistivity of.389K = 4.0 x 10-4 Omega cm and rho(1120K) = 1.5 x 10-3 Omega cm and the maximum PF value rho(389K) = 1.08 mW/m/K2 were obtained. This work demonstrates that nanosized Ti addition together with -Bi2O3 sintering aid in SPS process enhances the thermoelectric performance of -Sr0.9La0.1TiO3.