Thermoelectric properties of topological insulator Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3}, Sb{sub 2}Te{sub 3}, and Bi{sub 2}Se{sub 3} thin film quantum wells
- Institute of Applied Physics, Universität Hamburg, Jungiusstrasse 11, 20355 Hamburg (Germany)
The thermoelectric (TE) figure of merit ZT of topological insulator Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3}, Sb{sub 2}Te{sub 3}, and Bi{sub 2}Se{sub 3} thin film quantum wells is calculated for thicknesses below 10 nm, for which hybridization of the surface states as well as quantum confinement in the bulk are individually predicted to enhance ZT. Here, the question is addressed what ZT can be expected from coexisting surface and bulk states in such quantum wells. It is demonstrated that the parallel contributing bulk and surface channels tend to cancel each other out. This is because the surface-to-volume ratios of the thin films prevent the domination of transport through a single channel and because the individual bulk and surface ZTs are optimized at different Fermi levels.
- OSTI ID:
- 22350765
- Journal Information:
- Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 105, Issue 12; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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