Effects of microstructure evolution on transport properties of thermoelectric nickel-doped zinc oxide

We investigate the effects of microstructure evolution on transport properties of nickel-doped ZnO for thermoelectric waste heat recovery at high temperatures. A 3 at.% supersaturated Ni-alloyed ZnO solid solution was prepared by sintering at 1400 °C followed by controlled nucleation and growth of sub-micrometer size NiO-precipitates by aging at 750, 800, and 900 °C for different durations. Minimum thermal conductivity as low as 8.0 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ at 700 °C is obtained for samples aged at 750 °C for 16 h due to precipitates with high number density of 1.3·10²⁰ m⁻³, which initiate phonon scattering. In turn, as-quenched samples exhibit the highest electrical conductivity, ca. 17.9 S cm⁻¹ at 700 °C. Further nucleation and growth of precipitates taking place for longer annealing durations reduce electrical conductivity and increase Seebeck coefficients, which is associated with dilution of the ZnO-matrix from Ni-atoms. This study provides us with guidelines for optimization of thermoelectric Ni-doped ZnO.