Thermoelectric Power Factor in Nanostructured Materials With Randomized Nanoinclusions. Issue 17 (14th April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vargiamidis, Vassilios; Foster, Samuel; Neophytou, Neophytos
• Other Names: Diplas Spyros guestEditor.; Kyratsi Theodora guestEditor.; Sun Jianwu guestEditor.; Pirriera Monica Della guestEditor.; Ulyashin Alexander G. guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Physica status solidi. Volume 215:Issue 17(2018)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2018-04-14
• Subjects: non‐equilibrium Green's functions -- thermoelectrics -- thermoelectric power factor; Solid state physics -- Periodicals; Solids -- Industrial applications -- Periodicals; 530.41
• DOI: 10.1002/pssa.201700997
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1862-6300

Abstract

Abstract : Here, the electric and thermoelectric transport coefficients of nanocomposites are investigated using the Non‐Equilibrium Green's Function (NEGF) method, which can accurately capture the details of geometry and disorder in these structures. Two‐dimensional (2D) channels with embedded nanoinclusions (NIs) are considered, which are modelled as potential barriers of cylindrical shape and height V B . The effect of randomness of the NIs on the thermoelectric power factor is investigated by varying the positions, diameter, and heights of the barriers according to a Gaussian probability distribution. It is found that the power factor shows indications of tolerance to variations in the parameters of the NIs when the Fermi level is placed into the bands and V B ∼ k B T . These results could be experimentally relevant in the design of nanocomposites for thermoelectric applications. Abstract : Nanostructuring has been proven to be an effective way to reduce thermal conductivity and improve the thermoelectric performance of materials. This paper investigates the thermoelectric power factor of materials with embedded nanoinclusions. Specifically, the authors study the effect of variations in the position and size of nanoinclusions, and show that they only have a small influence on the power factor.