Reduction in the Thermal Conductivity of Thermoelectric Titanium Oxide by Introduction of Planar Defects

Thermoelectric properties of a homologous series of Magnéli phase titanium oxides TinO2n-1 (n = 2, 3..) have been investigated. Dense polycrystalline specimens with nominal composition of TiO2-x (x = 0.10, 0.20) have been prepared by conventional hot-pressing. X-ray diffraction analysis has revealed that prepared specimens are slightly reduced during hot-pressing. Electrical conduction is of n-type for all prepared titanium oxides and electrical resistivity and absolute values of Seebeck coefficient decrease with increasing oxygen deficiency. The carrier concentration of Magnéli phase titanium oxide increases with increasing oxygen deficiency. Lattice thermal conductivity decreases with increasing oxygen deficiency by more than 60% at room temperature and 40% at 773K compared to TiO2, which can be due to the presence of dense planar defects. The largest thermoelectric figure of merit Z, 1.6×10-4 K-1 at 773K, was obtained in TiO1.90 hot pressed specimen.