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Growth of nanoparticulate films of Ca3Co4O9 by a microwave plasma–assisted spray process

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2011

Ted Wangensteen ,
Marek Merlak ,
Tara Dhakal ,
Pritish Mukherjee ,
Sarath Witanachchi ,
Bed Poudel  and
Giri Joshi
Ted Wangensteen*
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620-5700
Marek Merlak
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620-5700
Tara Dhakal
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620-5700
Pritish Mukherjee
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620-5700
Sarath Witanachchi
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620-5700
Bed Poudel
Affiliation:
GMZ Energy, Inc., Waltham, Massachusetts 02453
Giri Joshi
Affiliation:
GMZ Energy, Inc., Waltham, Massachusetts 02453
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: twangens@mail.usf.edu
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Abstract

In this article, we report the use of a microwave plasma in a microwave plasma–assisted spray (MPAS) technique to grow crystalline nanoparticles of the oxide thermoelectric material Ca3Co4O9. This unique growth process allows the formation of nanoparticle coatings on substrates from an aqueous precursor of Ca and Co salts. The particle size is controlled from few tens to few hundred nanometers by varying the concentration of the precursor. The resistivity, Seebeck coefficient, and the power factor (PF) measured in the temperature range of 300–700 K for films grown by MPAS process with varying concentrations of calcium and cobalt chlorides are presented. Films with larger nanoparticles showed a trend toward higher PFs than those with smaller nanoparticles. Films with PFs as high as 220 μW/mK2 were observed to contain larger nanoparticles.

Keywords

ThermoelectricThin filmNanoscale
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 26 , Issue 15: Focus Issue: Advances in Thermoelectric Materials , 14 August 2011 , pp. 1940 - 1946
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2011

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