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arXiv · 1105.5163

Effective medium theory of binary thermoelectrics

Paul M. Haney
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Abstract

The transport coefficients of disordered media are analyzed using direct numerical simulation and effective medium theory. The results indicate a range of materials parameters for which disorder leads to an enhanced power factor. This increase in power factor is generally not accompanied by an increase in the figure of merit $ZT$, however. It is also found that the effective electrical conductivity and electronic contribution to the thermal conductivity are not generally proportional to each other in the presence of disorder.

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Paul M. Haney. 2011-05-25. Effective medium theory of binary thermoelectrics. https://arxiv.org/abs/1105.5163

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