Year: 2000
Type: article
Abstract: An enhanced thermoelectric figure of merit ${Z}_{3\mathrm{D}}T$ is predicted for $\mathrm{Bi}/(111){\mathrm{Pb}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Eu}}_{x}\mathrm{Te}$ superlattices. The values of ${Z}_{3\mathrm{D}}T$ obtained for $x\ensuremath{\approx}1$ superlattices are 2.31, 1.55, and 1.61 at 300, 150, and 77 K, respectively, showing that they are promising candidates for thermoelectric elements in the temperature range 77--300 K. Even with x as small as 0.1, where the conduction-band offset $\ensuremath{\Delta}{E}_{c}$ is estimated to be 0.25 eV, the predicted ${Z}_{3\mathrm{D}}T$ values are 1.75, 1.16, and 1.18 at 300, 150, and 77 K, respectively. It is proposed that other families of Bi-based superlattices, such as Bi/(111)CdTe superlattices, should also be good candidates for low-temperature thermoelectric elements.
Authors: T. Koga, O. Rabin, M. S. Dresselhaus
Institutions: Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W82644540