Quantum Effects in the Thermoelectric Power Factor of Low-Dimensional Semiconductors
Abstract
We theoretically investigate the interplay between the confinement length L and the thermal de Broglie wavelength Λ to optimize the thermoelectric power factor of semiconducting materials. An analytical formula for the power factor is derived based on the one-band model assuming nondegenerate semiconductors to describe quantum effects on the power factor of the low-dimensional semiconductors. The power factor is enhanced for one- and two-dimensional semiconductors when L is smaller than Λ of the semiconductors. In this case, the low-dimensional semiconductors having L smaller than their Λ will give a better thermoelectric performance compared to their bulk counterpart. On the other hand, when L is larger than Λ , bulk semiconductors may give a higher power factor compared to the lower dimensional ones.
- Publication:
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Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- July 2016
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.036602
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1604.04353
- Bibcode:
- 2016PhRvL.117c6602H
- Keywords:
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- Condensed Matter - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
- E-Print:
- 5 pages, 3 figures