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Use of Quantum-Well Superlattices to Increase the Thermoelectric Figure of Merit: Transport and Optical Studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2011

L. D. Hicks ,
X. X. Bi  and
M. S. Dresselhaus
L. D. Hicks
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
X. X. Bi
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
M. S. Dresselhaus
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
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Abstract

The thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of a material is a measure the usefulness of the material in a thermoelectric device. Presently, the materials with the highest ZT are Bi2Te3 alloys, with ZT ≃ 1. There has been little improvement in ZT for over 30 years. So far, all the materials used in thermoelectric applications have been in bulk form. Recently, however, calculations have shown that it may be possible to increase ZT of some materials through the use of quantum-well superlattices. We have made preliminary measurements on the Bi/PbTe superlattice system using transport and optical techniques to determine whether it is possible to achieve such an increase in ZT.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 358: Symposium F – Microcrystalline and Nanocrystalline Semiconductors , 1994 , 1035
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1995

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References

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