Enhancement of thermoelectric efficiency in PbTe by distortion of the electronic density of states

被引:3547
作者
Heremans, Joseph P. [1 ,2 ]
Jovovic, Vladimir [1 ]
Toberer, Eric S. [3 ]
Saramat, Ali [3 ]
Kurosaki, Ken [4 ]
Charoenphakdee, Anek [4 ]
Yamanaka, Shinsuke [4 ]
Snyder, G. Jeffrey [3 ]
机构
[1] Ohio State Univ, Dept Mech Engn, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
[2] Ohio State Univ, Dept Phys, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
[3] CALTECH, Pasadena, CA 91125 USA
[4] Osaka Univ, Grad Sch Engn, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
关键词
D O I
10.1126/science.1159725
中图分类号
O [数理科学和化学]; P [天文学、地球科学]; Q [生物科学]; N [自然科学总论];
学科分类号
07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;
摘要
The efficiency of thermoelectric energy converters is limited by the material thermoelectric figure of merit (zT). The recent advances in zT based on nanostructures limiting the phonon heat conduction is nearing a fundamental limit: The thermal conductivity cannot be reduced below the amorphous limit. We explored enhancing the Seebeck coefficient through a distortion of the electronic density of states and report a successful implementation through the use of the thallium impurity levels in lead telluride ( PbTe). Such band structure engineering results in a doubling of zT in p- type PbTe to above 1.5 at 773 kelvin. Use of this new physical principle in conjunction with nanostructuring to lower the thermal conductivity could further enhance zT and enable more widespread use of thermoelectric systems.
引用
收藏
页码:554 / 557
页数:4
相关论文
共 31 条
[1]   Ab initio study of deep defect states in narrow band-gap semiconductors:: Group III impurities in PbTe [J].
Ahmad, S ;
Hoang, K ;
Mahanti, SD .
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS, 2006, 96 (05)
[2]   MOBILITY OF ELECTRONS AND HOLES IN PBS, PBSE, AND PBTE BETWEEN ROOM TEMPERATURE AND 4.2-DEGREES-K [J].
ALLGAIER, RS ;
SCANLON, WW .
PHYSICAL REVIEW, 1958, 111 (04) :1029-1037
[3]   Nanostructuring and high thermoelectric efficiency in p-type Ag(Pb1-ySny)mSbTe2+m [J].
Androulakis, John ;
Hsu, Kuei Fang ;
Pcionek, Robert ;
Kong, Huijun ;
Uher, Ctirad ;
DAngelo, Jonathan J. ;
Downey, Adam ;
Hogan, Tim ;
Kanatzidis, Mercouri G. .
ADVANCED MATERIALS, 2006, 18 (09) :1170-+
[4]  
Callen H. B., 1960, THERMODYNAMICS
[5]   Ultra-low thermal conductivity in W/Al2O3 nanolaminates [J].
Costescu, RM ;
Cahill, DG ;
Fabreguette, FH ;
Sechrist, ZA ;
George, SM .
SCIENCE, 2004, 303 (5660) :989-990
[6]   OBSERVATION OF ANDERSON LOCALIZATION IN AN ELECTRON GAS [J].
CUTLER, M ;
MOTT, NF .
PHYSICAL REVIEW, 1969, 181 (03) :1336-&
[7]  
FRITTS RW, 1960, THERMOELECTRIC MAT D, P143
[8]   Quantum dot superlattice thermoelectric materials and devices [J].
Harman, TC ;
Taylor, PJ ;
Walsh, MP ;
LaForge, BE .
SCIENCE, 2002, 297 (5590) :2229-2232
[9]   Thermopower enhancement in lead telluride nanostructures [J].
Heremans, JP ;
Thrush, CM ;
Morelli, DT .
PHYSICAL REVIEW B, 2004, 70 (11) :115334-1
[10]   Thermoelectric power of bismuth nanocomposites [J].
Heremans, JP ;
Thrush, CM ;
Morelli, DT ;
Wu, MC .
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS, 2002, 88 (21) :4