Universal scaling relations for the thermoelectric power factor of nanostructures

Jane E. Cornett; Oded Rabin

doi:10.1117/12.919329

24 May 2012 Universal scaling relations for the thermoelectric power factor of nanostructures

Jane E. Cornett, Oded Rabin

Proceedings Volume 8377, Energy Harvesting and Storage: Materials, Devices, and Applications III; 83770L (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.919329
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2012, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Abstract

Computational models for the transport properties of nanostructured thermoelectric materials predicted vast improvements in the thermoelectric power factor (PF) values over bulk due to discretization of the electron density-of-states function as the result of confinement. We have developed a model that bridges bulk and nanostructure PF data. The model is analyzed in the framework of the relaxation time approximation, considering different scattering mechanisms. The model shows that the PF of nanowires in fact falls below the bulk value for most of the experimentally-accessible size range. Under the constant relaxation time approximation, universal scaling relations are obtained for all single-carrier semiconductors.

Citation Download Citation

Jane E. Cornett and Oded Rabin "Universal scaling relations for the thermoelectric power factor of nanostructures", Proc. SPIE 8377, Energy Harvesting and Storage: Materials, Devices, and Applications III, 83770L (24 May 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.919329

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