Quantitative texture analysis of grain-aligned [Ca2CoO3]0.62[CoO2] ceramics processed by the reactive-templated grain growth method

In this study, the texture analysis of highly grain-aligned ceramics of thermoelectric [Ca2CoO3]0.62[CoO2] prepared by the reactive-templated grain growth process was examined. The direct quantitative texture analysis and the combined approach, two advanced methods of x-ray diffraction analysis, were used to analyze fiber texture strength and crystallite size. The calculation of distribution density, correlated to the representation of normal and inverse pole figures, highlights the influence of the texture development on the thermoelectric properties. The electrical conductivity was significantly increased by the improvement of grain alignment during the final uniaxial-pressing treatment. An increase in orientation degree enhances thermoelectric properties, even for highly textured ceramics. The quantitative texture analysis appears to be essential for the development of textured thermoelectric ceramics with enhanced properties.