Parametric modeling of energy filtering by energy barriers in thermoelectric nanocomposites
- Department of Aircraft Technology, Technological Educational Institution of Sterea Ellada, 34400 Psachna (Greece)
- Department of Materials Science, University of Milano Bicocca, 20125 Milano (Italy)
We present a parametric modeling of the thermoelectric transport coefficients based on a model previously used to interpret experimental measurements on the conductivity, σ, and Seebeck coefficient, S, in highly Boron-doped polycrystalline Si, where a very significant thermoelectric power factor (TPF) enhancement was observed. We have derived analytical formalism for the transport coefficients in the presence of an energy barrier assuming thermionic emission over the barrier for (i) non-degenerate and (ii) degenerate one-band semiconductor. Simple generic parametric equations are found that are in agreement with the exact Boltzmann transport formalism in a wide range of parameters. Moreover, we explore the effect of energy barriers in 1-d composite semiconductors in the presence of two phases: (a) the bulk-like phase and (b) the barrier phase. It is pointed out that significant TPF enhancement can be achieved in the composite structure of two phases with different thermal conductivities. The TPF enhancement is estimated as a function of temperature, the Fermi energy position, the type of scattering, and the barrier height. The derived modeling provides guidance for experiments and device design.
- OSTI ID:
- 22412970
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 117, Issue 3; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
BOLTZMANN EQUATION
BORON
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
DOPED MATERIALS
NANOCOMPOSITES
POLYCRYSTALS
SCATTERING
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SILICON
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
THERMIONIC EMISSION
THERMOELECTRIC MATERIALS
THERMOELECTRIC PROPERTIES