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Exploration and Optimization of Tellurium‐Based Thermoelectrics

Exploration and Optimization of Tellurium‐Based Thermoelectrics

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a b <br />

∗<br />

Equation 1.4 (a) Electrical conductivity (b) Carrier mobility<br />

The charge <strong>of</strong> an electron is constant, which leaves two variables in this equation: <strong>and</strong> . While is<br />

simply a concentration – albeit one with numerous classifications <strong>and</strong> applications – relies on the<br />

additional conditions shown in Equation 1.4 (b): – the relaxation time or time between carrier‐carrier<br />

collisions, <strong>and</strong> ∗ – the carrier’s effective mass. [26]<br />

1.2.3. Thermal Conductivity<br />

Thermal conductivity () is also rather self‐explanatory; it is a measure <strong>of</strong> how much heat (i.e.<br />

phonons) travels through a material. Of the three factors featured from Equation 1.1, is the only one<br />

that is typically divided into two (or more) sub‐variables as demonstrated by Equation 1.5 (a):<br />

a el ph b el c ph <br />

v ph ph<br />

Equation 1.5 (a) Thermal conductivity (b) Electronic contribution (c) Lattice contribution<br />

The process <strong>of</strong> thermal conductivity can further be divided into el: the heat contributed from the<br />

charge carriers (electrons <strong>and</strong> holes) in the structure, <strong>and</strong> ph: the heat contributed from vibrations in<br />

the crystal lattice as a result <strong>of</strong> heat waves (phonons). The first <strong>of</strong> the terms, el, can be approximated<br />

by the Wiedemann‐Franz law [27] (Equation 1.5 (b)) for metals <strong>and</strong> narrow b<strong>and</strong> gap semiconductors. [28] is<br />

known as the Lorenz number, theoretically calculated by Sommerfeld in 1927 [29] for metals <strong>and</strong> heavily‐<br />

doped semiconductors as 2.45∙10 ‐8 WK ‐2 . Empirically, it has also been measured realising slightly<br />

different values for specific elements <strong>and</strong> compounds; PbTe (1.70∙10 ‐8 WK ‐2 ) [30] for example. The<br />

Wiedemann‐Franz law affords a convenient approximation <strong>of</strong> the electronic contribution, el, via<br />

examination <strong>of</strong> σ’s behaviour. ph (Equation 1.5 (c)), based on the kinetic theory <strong>of</strong> gases, is dependent on<br />

the specific heat per volume ( v) <strong>of</strong> the material, the phonon mean free path ( ph), <strong>and</strong> the speed <strong>of</strong><br />

sound ( ph) due to the acoustic nature <strong>of</strong> lattice phonons. Though heavily doped semiconducting<br />

materials are <strong>of</strong>ten dominated by the latter term, ph is a crucial component to the behaviour <strong>and</strong><br />

subsequent optimization <strong>of</strong> thermoelectric materials. [28] While the overall thermal conductivity is<br />

useful, advances towards nanostructured materials direct more <strong>and</strong> more interest towards the<br />

individual components including possible ph reductions with nano‐boundaries, impurity scattering, <strong>and</strong><br />

other routes further discussed in 2.5.<br />

7

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