Abstract
Basic physical features of thermoelectric cooling in p-n structures of a submicrometer thickness, which is manifested even in the linear approximation in current, are investigated. It is shown that a multitem-perature model in which each subsystem of quasi-particles is characterized by its own temperature is effective for studying such structures. The criteria for applicability of the one-temperature model are established. The common structure of the boundary conditions for heat fluxes through the surface at which thermoelectric cooling or heating takes place is revealed. Physical regularities are studied for the most interesting cases; the criteria for their implementation are also considered.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ioffe A.F., Semiconductor Thermoelements and Thermoelectric Cooling (Infosearch, London, 1957).
J. Tauc, Photo and Thermoelectric Effects in Semiconductors (Pergamon, Oxford, 1962).
L. I. Anatychuk, Physics of Thermoelectricity (Institute of Thermoelectricity, Kyiv-Chernovtsi, 1998).
G. S. Nolas, J. Sharp, and H. J. Goldsmid, Thermoelectrics: Basic Principles and New Materials Developments (Springer, Berlin, 2001).
Thermoelectrics Handbook: Macro to Nano, Ed. by D. M. Rowe (CRC, London, 2006).
F. G. Bass, V. S. Bochkov, and Yu. G. Gurevich, Electrons and Phonons in Bounded Semiconductors (Nauka, Moscow, 1984) [in Russian].
V. S. Bochkov and Yu. G. Gurevich, Fiz. Tekh. Poluprovodn. (Leningrad) 17, 728 (1983) [Sov. Phys. Semicond. 17, 456 (1983)].
Yu. G. Gurevich and G. N. Logvinov, Semicond. Sci. Technol. 20, R57 (2005).
Yu. G. Gurevich, G. N. Logvinov, G. Espejo, O. Yu. Titov, and A. Meriuts, Fiz. Tekh. Poluprovodn. (St. Petersburg) 34, 783 (2000) [Semiconductors 34, 755 (2000)].
G. N. Logvinov, J. E. Velazquez, I. M. Lashkevych, and Yu. G. Gurevich, Appl. Phys. Lett. 89, 092118 (2006).
O. Yu. Titov, J. Giraldo, and Yu. G. Gurevich, Appl. Phys. Lett. 80, 3108 (2002).
G. D. Mahan and M. Bartkowiak, Appl. Phys. Lett. 74, 953 (1999).
M. Bartkowiak and G. D. Mahan, in Recent Trends in Thermoelectric Materials Research, Vol. 70, 2001, Ser. Semiconductors and Semimetals, pp. 245–271.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Original Russian Text © I.M. Lashkevich, O. Angeles Fragoso, Yu.G. Gurevich, 2009, published in Zhurnal Tekhnicheskoĭ Fiziki, 2009, Vol. 79, No. 2, pp. 125–131.