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Optimizing thermal transport in the Falicov-Kimball model: binary-alloy picture

J. K. Freericks·V. Zlatic
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Abstract

We analyze the thermal transport properties of the Falicov-Kimball model concentrating on locating regions of parameter space where the thermoelectric figure-of-merit ZT is large. We focus on high temperature for power generation applications and low temperature for cooling applications. We constrain the static particles (ions) to have a fixed concentration, and vary the conduction electron concentration as in the binary-alloy picture of the Falicov-Kimball model. We find a large region of parameter space with ZT>1 at high temperature and we find a small region of parameter space with ZT>1 at low temperature for correlated systems, but we believe inclusion of the lattice thermal conductivity will greatly reduce the low-temperature figure-of-merit.

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J. K. Freericks, V. Zlatic. 2002-11-18. Optimizing thermal transport in the Falicov-Kimball model: binary-alloy picture. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.68.195120

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