Journal of Electronic Materials

, Volume 43, Issue 10, pp 3753–3757 | Cite as

Band Structure Engineering in Geometry-Modulated Nanostructures for Thermoelectric Efficiency Enhancement

Article
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

The energy subband structure of nanowires with periodically modulated cross-section has been calculated within a continuum model and the effective mass approximation. A characteristic structure of minibands and resonances has been found. This leads to a remarkable enhancement of the Seebeck coefficient compared with that of nonmodulated nanowires of the same dimensions. The Seebeck coefficient enhancement depends on the interplay between the thermal broadening and the quantum confinement. It is pointed out here that the modulation geometry and material parameters can provide design tools for Seebeck coefficient enhancement in nanowires.

Keywords

Seebeck coefficient thermoelectric efficiency nanowires dots energy dispersion 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Notes

Acknowledgement

Funding has been provided by the European Social Fund (ESF)-European Union and National Resources within the framework of the Grant of Excellence “ARISTEIA.”

References

  1. 1.
    L.D. Hicks and M.S. Dresselhaus, Phys. Rev. B 47, 16631 (1993).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. 2.
    R. Venkatasubramanian, E. Siivola, T. Colpitts, and B. O’Quinn, Nature 413, 597 (2001).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. 3.
    J.P. Heremans, B. Wiendlocha, and A.M. Chamoire, Energy Environ. Sci. 5, 5510 (2012).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. 4.
    R. Kim, S. Datta, and M.S. Lundstrom, J. Appl. Phys. 105, 034506 (2009).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. 5.
    N. Mingo, Appl. Phys. Lett. 84, 2652 (2004).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. 6.
    D. Li, Y. Wu, P. Kim, L. Shi, P. Yang, and A. Majumdar, Appl. Phys. Lett. 83, 2934 (2003).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. 7.
    P. Chantrenne, J.L. Barrat, X. Blase, and J.D. Gale, J. Appl. Phys. 97, 104318 (2005).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. 8.
    N. Neophytou and H. Kosina, Phys. Rev. B 83, 245305 (2011).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. 9.
    Y. Tian, Nano Lett. 12, 6492 (2012).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. 10.
    X. Zianni, Appl. Phys. Lett. 97, 233106 (2010).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. 11.
    X. Zianni, Nanoscale Res. Lett. 6, 286 (2011).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. 12.
    W.-X. Li, K.-Q. Chen, W. Duan, J. Wu, and B.-L. Gu, J. Phys. Condens. Matter 16, 5049 (2004).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. 13.
    X. Zianni, J. Solid State Chem. 193, 53 (2012).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. 14.
    X. Zianni and P. Chantrenne, J. Electron. Mater. doi: 10.1007/s11664-012-2304-2.
  15. 15.
    D.L. Nika, Phys. Rev. B 85, 205439 (2012).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. 16.
    K. Termentzidis, T. Barreteau, Y. Ni, S. Merabia, X. Zianni, Y. Chalopin, P. Chantrenne, and S. Volz, Phys. Rev. B 87, 125410 (2013).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. 17.
    D.W. Wilson, E.N. Glytsis, and T.K. Gaylord, J. Appl. Phys. 76, 5567 (1994).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. 18.
    S. Marini, A. Coves, V.E. Boria, and B. Gimeno, IEEE Trans. Electron Devices 57, 516 (2010).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. 19.
    M.J. Kearney and P.N. Butcher, J. Phys. C 19, 5429 (1986).CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© TMS 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Aircraft TechnologyTechnological Educational Institution of Central GreecePsachnaGreece
  2. 2.Department of MicroelectronicsIAMPPNM, NCSR ‘Demokritos’AthensGreece

Personalised recommendations