Effect of interface thermal resistance on thermoelectric properties of acoustically mismatched composite

In this study, the synergistic effect of the particle size of the dispersed phase and the interface thermal resistance (R$_{int}$) between the phases on the phonon thermal conductivity ($\kappa_{ph}$) of the (1-x)La$_{0.95}$Sr$_{0.05}$Co$_{0.95}$Mn$_{0.05}$O$_3$/(x)WC thermoelectric composite, is demonstrated. Further, the correlation between the R$_{int}$ and the Kapitza radius is discussed using the Bruggeman's asymmetrical model. In particular, the polycrystalline La$_{0.95}$Sr$_{0.05}$Co$_{0.95}$Mn$_{0.05}$O$_3$ sample is synthesized using a standard-solid state route. The presence of WC nanoparticle is confirmed from the electron microscopy images. Electrical conductivity ($\sigma$) increases, and the Seebeck coefficient ($\alpha$) decreases with the increase in conducting WC volume fraction in the composite. The simultaneous increase in $\sigma$ and a decrease in $\kappa_{ph}$ with the WC volume fraction results in an increased figure of merit (zT) for (1-x)La$_{0.95}$Sr$_{0.05}$Co$_{0.95}$Mn$_{0.05}$O$_3$/(x)WC composite. A maximum zT $\sim$ 0.20 is obtained for (1-x)La$_{0.95}$Sr$_{0.05}$Co$_{0.95}$Mn$_{0.05}$O$_3$/(x)WC composite for x=0.010 at 463 K. The results obtained in the present study shows promise to design thermoelectric composites with desired phonon thermal conductivity considering the elastic properties between the phases.