Effect of disordered nanoporosity on electrical and thermal properties of layered Ca3Co4O9 films

Abstract

Independently controlling electronic and thermal transport in solids is a challenge, because these properties are coupled. Here, we show that disordered nanoporosity in Ca3Co4O9 thin films can decrease the thermal conductivity without significantly hampering electronic transport. Scanning thermal microscopy was used to determine the out-of-plane thermal conductivity and estimate the in-plane values. Nanoporous Ca3Co4O9 films exhibit a thermal conductivity of 0.82 W m−1 K−1, which is nearly twofold lower than that obtained from nonporous Ca3Co4O9 films. Nanoporous Ca3Co4O9 exhibit a room-temperature electrical resistivity of 4 mΩ cm, which is comparable to polycrystalline Ca3Co4O9 and twice that reported for single-crystal Ca3Co4O9. Our results suggest that controlling nanoporosity and their degree of disorder can offer a means of decoupling electrical and thermal properties in materials.