The　rare　earth　praseodymium　doped　Ca3-xPrxCo4O9　(x　=　0.05,　0.1,　0.2　and　0.3)　thermoelectric　bulk　materials　are　fabricated　by　combining　sol-gel　with　spark　plasma　sintering　method.　The　bulk　specimens　are　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD)　and　scanning　electron　microscope　(SEM).　The　effects　of　Pr　doping　on　thermoelectric　transport　properties　have　been　investigated.　The　results　show　that　all　specimens　are　single-phased;　the　grain　orientated　bulks　present　deteriorated　texture.　The　polaron　carrier　conduction　mechanism　is　not　changed　and　the　electrical　conduction　is　tuned　as　a　result　of　carrier　concentration　modification,　thereby　an　enhanced　Seebeck　coefficient.　The　total　thermal　conductivity　is　suppressed　mainly　due　to　the　phonon　thermal　conduction　confinement.　The　thermoelectric　performance　of　the　bulk　material　is　optimized　at　x　=　0.2.　(C)　2011　Elsevier　Masson　SAS.　All　rights　reserved.