| Abstract Scope |
Thermoelectric (TE) technology can convert waste heat into useful electrical power, thereby providing appropriate solutions for sustainable and clean energy demands. Of special interest are metal-oxides, which are relatively inexpensive and can operate at elevated temperatures. We will introduce strategies to develop CaMnO<sub>3</sub> based oxides with improved properties, which are based on experimental procedures, including materials synthesis and dopant selection, TE transport analysis, and high-resolution electron microscopy, and are supplemented by first-principles calculations. We show that Y-doped CaMnO<sub>3</sub> compounds are usually more conductive than their La-doped counterparts, which is explained by softening of the lattice due to Y-doping, thereby reducing polaron hopping energies. Remarkably high TE power factor values were recorded for the Ca<sub>0.97</sub>La<sub>0.03</sub>MnO<sub>3</sub> compound, i.e., 300 μWm<sup>−1</sup> K<sup>−2</sup> at 1050 K. These values are preserved for a wide temperature range, rendering this compound a good candidate for heat-to-electrical power generation at elevated temperatures. |