Paper TF-ThP26
Thermal Annealing Effects on the Thermoelectric Properties of CoAg Thin Films

Thursday, October 25, 2018, 6:00 pm, Room Hall B

Many developed countries go to the sustainable, efficient, and renewable energy sources due to the high demand in energy usage. Power generation from the thermoelectric materials is one of the promising area among the others. Efficient thermoelectric materials (TE) could convert heat into electrical energy. These materials are used as thermoelectric generators (TEG) using Seebeck effect, and thermoelectric coolers (TEC) using Peltier effect. The heat generated from TE could be used in many areas like in electrical powers, automobiles, airlines, and marine vessels. The dimensionless figure of merit, ZT, shows the efficiency of the thermoelectric materials and/or devices. ZT is calculated by multiplying the square of the Seebeck coefficient with the electrical conductivity and the temperature, then dividing it all by its thermal conductivity. DC/RF magnetron sputtering technique was used to fabricate nano-scale thin films of Cobalt-Silver (CoAg) on SiO₂ substrates using Co and Ag targets with co-deposition procedure. Thermal annealing was introduced to enhance thermoelectric efficiency by forming quantum structures within the films. The Seebeck coefficient, van der Pauw four-probe resistivity, mobility, Hall coefficient, density, measurements were performed, and power factor has been found to be improved in nano-scale thin films by thermal annealing. The findings will be shown during the meeting.

Acknowledgement

Research was sponsored by NSF with grant numbers NSF-HBCU-RISE-1546965, NSF-MRI-1337616, DOD with grant numbers W911 NF-08-1-0425, and W911NF-12-1-0063, U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE-NNSA) with grant numbers DE-NA0001896 and DE-NA0002687.