Coupled theoretical interpretation and experimental investigation of the anisotropy of the lattice thermal conductivity of Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3} single crystal
- Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Technique, Heidenhofstr. 8, D-79110 Freiburg (Germany)
The Debye model is modified for the calculation of the lattice thermal conductivity and used to gain insight into the anisotropy of Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3}. In this work, the Debye temperature is not used to estimate the cutoff frequencies of the phonons that carry heat. The cutoff frequencies are defined by setting an upper limit to the energy of acoustic phonons using the complete dispersion relations. The anisotropy of the thermal conductivity is found to be unrelated to the anisotropy of the sound velocities. It is found that the sound velocity is almost isotropic when the longitudinal and two transversal waves are added together. In addition the relaxation time must be a function of the cutoff frequencies and counterbalances the anisotropy arising from the variation of the number of acoustic phonons traveling in various directions. It is concluded that the anisotropy of the thermal conductivity is mostly related to the Grueneisen's constant. - Graphical abstract: Dispersion relations of Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3} along c-axis. The cutoff frequencies are found to be anisotropic and are defined exactly in this article where the acoustic branch crosses the optical branch. This affects both the number of phonons that carry heat in a given direction and the number of phonons that can scatter them. This is decisive for understanding the lattice thermal conductivity. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Prediction of the anisotropy of the lattice thermal conductivity. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Provide a definition of the cutoff frequencies that makes sense. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Reduction of the number of frees parameter in phenomenological model. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Prediction that the anisotropy is a function of the scattering mechanism. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Means of experimental verification of theory.
- OSTI ID:
- 22149808
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Journal Name: Journal of Solid State Chemistry Vol. 193; ISSN 0022-4596; ISSN JSSCBI
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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