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arXiv · 1206.4078

Thermoelectric transport in $\text{Bi}_2\text{Te}_3/\text{Sb}_2\text{Te}_3$ superlattices

N. F. Hinsche·B. Yu. Yavorsky·M. Gradhand·M. Czerner·M. Winkler·J. König·H. Böttner·I. Mertig·P. Zahn
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Abstract

The thermoelectric transport properties of $\text{Bi}_2\text{Te}_3/\text{Sb}_2\text{Te}_3$superlattices are analyzed on the basis of first-principles calculations and semi-classical Boltzmann theory. The anisotropy of the thermoelectric transport under electron and hole-doping was studied in detail for different superlattice periods at changing temperature and charge carrier concentrations. A clear preference for thermoelectric transport under hole-doping, as well as for the in-plane transport direction was found for all superlattice periods. At hole-doping the electrical transport anisotropies remain bulk-like for all investigated systems, while under electron-doping quantum confinement leads to strong suppression of the cross-plane thermoelectric transport at several superlattice periods. In addition, insights on the Lorenz function, the electronic contribution to the thermal conductivity and the resulting figure of merit are given.

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N. F. Hinsche, B. Yu. Yavorsky, M. Gradhand, M. Czerner, M. Winkler, J. König, H. Böttner, I. Mertig, P. Zahn. 2012-06-18. Thermoelectric transport in $\text{Bi}_2\text{Te}_3/\text{Sb}_2\text{Te}_3$ superlattices. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.86.085323

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