Journal ArticleDOI
Improved Thermoelectric Power Factor in Metal-Based Superlattices
Daryoosh Vashaee,Ali Shakouri +1 more
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TLDR
It is shown that metal-based superlattices with tall barriers can achieve a large effective thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT > 5 at room temperature), a key parameter to achieving high performance is the nonconservation of lateral momentum during the thermionic emission process.Abstract:
In this paper we present a detailed theory of electron and thermoelectric transport perpendicular to heterostructure superlattices. This nonlinear transport regime above barriers is also called heterostructure thermionic emission. We show that metal-based superlattices with tall barriers can achieve a large effective thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT > 5 at room temperature). A key parameter to achieving high performance is the nonconservation of lateral momentum during the thermionic emission process. Conservation of lateral momentum is a consequence of translational symmetry in the plane of the superlattice. We also discuss the use of nonplanar barriers and embedded quantum dot structures to achieve high thermoelectric conversion efficiency.read more
Citations
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Constructing n-type Ag2Se/CNTs composites toward synergistically enhanced thermoelectric and mechanical performance
TL;DR: In this article , a series of Ag2Se/Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) nanocomposites are controllably constructed through in situ solution synthesis combined with fast sintering.
Journal ArticleDOI
Power factor enhancement by inhomogeneous distribution of dopants in two-phase nanocrystalline systems
Neophytos Neophytou,Neophytos Neophytou,Xanthippi Zianni,Hans Kosina,Stefano Frabboni,Bruno Lorenzi,Dario Narducci +6 more
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe a novel idea that allows for high thermoelectric power factors in two-phase materials that are heavily doped with an inhomogeneous distribution of dopants.
Journal ArticleDOI
Tailoring interface roughness and superlattice period length in electron-filtering thermoelectric materials
Shidong Wang,Natalio Mingo +1 more
TL;DR: In this article, the effects of interface roughness and superlattice period on thermoelectric electron filtering in super-lattices were quantified using the nonequilibrium Green's function method with a realistic description of the interface.
Journal ArticleDOI
Strategies for engineering phonon transport in Heusler thermoelectric compounds
TL;DR: The authors discusses several approaches such as bulk nanostructuring, the creation of point defects and vacancies, impurity doping, and multiphase engineering of the material structure for reducing the thermal conductivity of the Heusler compounds.
Journal ArticleDOI
Solid-state thermionics and thermoelectrics in the ballistic transport regime
TL;DR: In this paper, it was shown that the equations for electrical current in solid-state thermionic and thermoelectric devices converge for devices with a width equal to the mean free path of electrons, yielding a common expression for the intensive electronic efficiency in the two types of devices.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
Thin-film thermoelectric devices with high room-temperature figures of merit
TL;DR: Th thin-film thermoelectric materials are reported that demonstrate a significant enhancement in ZT at 300 K, compared to state-of-the-art bulk Bi2Te3 alloys, and the combination of performance, power density and speed achieved in these materials will lead to diverse technological applications.
Journal ArticleDOI
Quantum dot superlattice thermoelectric materials and devices.
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that improved cooling values relative to the conventional bulk (Bi,Sb)2(Se,Te)3thermoelectric materials using a n-type film in a one-leg thermoelectrics device test setup, which cooled the cold junction 43.7 K below the room temperature hot junction temperature of 299.8 K.
Journal ArticleDOI
Heterostructure integrated thermionic coolers
Ali Shakouri,John E. Bowers +1 more
TL;DR: In this paper, a single-stage room temperature cooling of high power electronic and optoelectronic devices is achieved by selective emission of hot electrons over a barrier layer from the cathode to the anode.
Journal ArticleDOI
Multilayer Thermionic Refrigeration
TL;DR: In this paper, a new method of refrigeration is proposed by thermionic emission of electrons over Schottky barriers between metals and semiconductors, which can have only a small temperature difference.
Journal ArticleDOI
Electronic and thermoelectric transport in semiconductor and metallic superlattices
Daryoosh Vashaee,Ali Shakouri +1 more
TL;DR: In this article, a detailed theory of nonisothermal electron transport perpendicular to multilayer superlattice structures is presented, and the currentvoltage and cooling power density are calculated using Fermi-Dirac statistics, density-of-states for a finite quantum well and the quantum mechanical reflection coefficient.