Thermoelectric properties of BaUO3

The thermoelectric properties of BaUO3 were evaluated in the temperature ra nge from room temperature to about 1000 K. In order to clarify the phonon g lass property of BaUO3, the heat conduction mechanism were also studied. Th e electrical resistivity was higher by approximately four orders of magnitu de than that of the state-of-the-art thermoelectric materials. The Seebeck coefficient was negative in the whole temperature range, and the maximum ab solute value bore comparison with the currently used thermoelectric materia ls. The thermal conductivity was extremely low and like glasses in spite of its simple crystal structure, indicating that BaUO3 has a phonon glass pro perty. The heat conduction of BaUO3 was mainly composed by the phonon contr ibution at low temperatures and the excitonic contribution at high temperat ures. The dimensionless figure of merit ZT was extremely lower than that of the state-of-the-art thermoelectric materials. In order to utilize BaUO3 a s an actual thermoelectric module, optimization of the electrical propertie s are required. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.