Abstract
In this paper, we report a method to create nickel nanowires with various resistances, as well as its thermoelectric measurement. We found out that the various resistances can directly improve the thermoelectric effect. The resistance can reduce the thermal conductivity and would significantly increase the Seebeck voltage. The thermoelectric voltage of the nanowire with the highest resistance is found to be 4.5 times higher than the nanowire with the smallest resistance. Under a temperature difference of 10.068 K between the hot side and cold side, the generated electrical motive force can reach 0.791 mV. Besides, the nickel nanowire possesses overall better thermoelectric efficiency than the Au nanowire, under same temperature difference of 10.068 K, and the nickel nanowire yields a 4.24 times higher voltage than Au nanowire. © 2013 IEEE.