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Title: Enhanced thermoelectric performance of a quintuple layer of Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3}

Abstract

The electronic structure of a quintuple layer (QL) of Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3} is calculated using the first-principles pseudopotential method. It is found that the band gap of an isolated QL is considerably larger than that of bulk Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3}. The electronic transport of the QL is, then, evaluated using the semiclassical Boltzmann theory within the relaxation time approximation. By fitting the energy surface from first-principles calculations, a suitable Morse potential is constructed and used to predicate the lattice thermal conductivity via equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. By optimizing the carrier concentration of the system, the ZT of Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3} QL can be enhanced to a relatively high value. Moreover, the ZT value exhibits strong temperature dependence and can reach as high as 2.0 at 800 K. This value can be further increased to 2.2 by the substitution of Bi atoms with Sb atoms, giving nominal formula of (Bi{sub 0.25}Sb{sub 0.75}){sub 2}Te{sub 3}. The significantly enhanced ZT value makes QL a very appealing candidate for thermoelectric applications.

Authors:
; ; ;  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-Structures of Ministry of Education and School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072 (China)
  2. State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070 (China)
  3. Department of Physics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22308726
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of Applied Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 116; Journal Issue: 2; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0021-8979
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY; ATOMS; BISMUTH TELLURIDES; CARRIERS; CONCENTRATION RATIO; ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE; LAYERS; MOLECULAR DYNAMICS METHOD; MORSE POTENTIAL; OPTIMIZATION; RELAXATION TIME; SEMICLASSICAL APPROXIMATION; SIMULATION; SURFACES; TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE; THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY; THERMOELECTRIC PROPERTIES

Citation Formats

Zhang, J., Liu, H. J., E-mail: phlhj@whu.edu.cn, Cheng, L., Wei, J., Shi, J., Tang, X. F., and Uher, C. Enhanced thermoelectric performance of a quintuple layer of Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3}. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4889921.
Zhang, J., Liu, H. J., E-mail: phlhj@whu.edu.cn, Cheng, L., Wei, J., Shi, J., Tang, X. F., & Uher, C. Enhanced thermoelectric performance of a quintuple layer of Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3}. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4889921
Zhang, J., Liu, H. J., E-mail: phlhj@whu.edu.cn, Cheng, L., Wei, J., Shi, J., Tang, X. F., and Uher, C. 2014. "Enhanced thermoelectric performance of a quintuple layer of Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3}". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4889921.
@article{osti_22308726,
title = {Enhanced thermoelectric performance of a quintuple layer of Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3}},
author = {Zhang, J. and Liu, H. J., E-mail: phlhj@whu.edu.cn and Cheng, L. and Wei, J. and Shi, J. and Tang, X. F. and Uher, C.},
abstractNote = {The electronic structure of a quintuple layer (QL) of Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3} is calculated using the first-principles pseudopotential method. It is found that the band gap of an isolated QL is considerably larger than that of bulk Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3}. The electronic transport of the QL is, then, evaluated using the semiclassical Boltzmann theory within the relaxation time approximation. By fitting the energy surface from first-principles calculations, a suitable Morse potential is constructed and used to predicate the lattice thermal conductivity via equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. By optimizing the carrier concentration of the system, the ZT of Bi{sub 2}Te{sub 3} QL can be enhanced to a relatively high value. Moreover, the ZT value exhibits strong temperature dependence and can reach as high as 2.0 at 800 K. This value can be further increased to 2.2 by the substitution of Bi atoms with Sb atoms, giving nominal formula of (Bi{sub 0.25}Sb{sub 0.75}){sub 2}Te{sub 3}. The significantly enhanced ZT value makes QL a very appealing candidate for thermoelectric applications.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4889921},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22308726}, journal = {Journal of Applied Physics},
issn = {0021-8979},
number = 2,
volume = 116,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jul 14 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Mon Jul 14 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}