Synthesis–property relationship in thermoelectric Sr 1− x Yb x TiO 3− δ ceramics

The electronic transport properties of a series of Sr1-xYbxTiO3-delta (x = 0.05, 0.1) ceramics are investigated as a function of solid-state reaction (SSR) parameters, specifically calcination steps. It was found that the electrical conductivity (sigma) increases almost by a factor of 6, through the optimization of SSR parameters. The enhancement in the electrical conductivity leads to an enhancement in the thermoelectric power factor by a factor of 3. In addition, the lattice thermal conductivity (k(L)) of the Sr1-xYbxTiO3-delta ceramics is suppressed with increasing Yb-doping, supposedly due to heavier atomic mass of Yb substituted at the Sr site and a smaller ionic radii of Yb+3 with respect to Sr+2 ions. However, our model calculations indicate that strain-field effect, which occurs due to the difference in ionic radii, is the more prominent phonon scattering mechanism in the Yb-doped SrTiO3. This work is an extension of our previous study on the underlying phonon scattering mechanisms in the Y-doped SrTiO3, which would provide new insight into thermal transport in doped SrTiO3 and could be used as a guideline for more effective material synthesis.