Work

Bilayer Excitons in Two-Dimensional Nanostructures for Greatly Enhanced Thermoelectric Efficiency

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: Generating electricity from a temperature gradient (due to waste heat from an engine or power plant, say) is seen as a significant aspect of the energy economy. Here the authors propose a thermoelectric device that takes advantage of bilayer excitons, electron-hole bound states that can form at an interface. By enhancing both thermopower and electrical conductivity, the counterflow construction of such bilayer-exciton systems can increase the thermoelectric figure of merit by an order of magnitude, compared to that of a bulk material.

Source: Physical Review Applied

DOI: 10.1103/physrevapplied.2.054013

Authors: Kai Wu, Louk Rademaker, Jan Zaanen

Institutions: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, University of California, Santa Barbara, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, Leiden University

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Thermoelectric Materials and Devices

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek