Nanostructures of AIVBVI compounds for thermoelectric conversions
Abstract
On the basis of the theoretical model of a quantum well with infinitely high walls the dependences of the thermoelectric parameters of nanostructures of lead chalcogenides PbTe, PbSe, and PbS on their thickness have been investigated. It has been found that the Seebeck coefficient of such structures changes nonmonotonically with the width of the corresponding quantum well. Comparison has been made between the theoretical and experimental dependences of the Seebeck coefficient of the above nanostructures on their thickness for the oscillation period of these dependences, and the Fermi energy for such structures has been determined. It has been shown that the minimum width of the quantum well at which the first energy level of the considered nanostructures coincides with the Fermi level is equal to the oscillation period of their Seebeck coefficient.
- Publication:
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Journal of Engineering Physics and Thermophysics
- Pub Date:
- September 2012
- DOI:
- 10.1007/s10891-012-0752-4
- Bibcode:
- 2012JEPT...85.1097F
- Keywords:
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- nanostructure;
- quantum-dimensional effects;
- lead chalcogenides