Interplay of Peltier and Seebeck effects in nanoscale nonlocal spin valves

We have experimentally studied the role of thermoelectric effects in nanoscale nonlocal spin valve devices. A finite element thermoelectric model is developed to calculate the generated Seebeck voltages due to Peltier and Joule heating in the devices. By measuring the first, second, and third harmonic voltage response nonlocally, the model is experimentally examined. The results indicate that the combination of Peltier and Seebeck effects contributes significantly to the nonlocal baseline resistance. Moreover, we found that the second and third harmonic response signals can be attributed to Joule heating and temperature dependencies of both the Seebeck coefficient and resistivity.     

Micro thermoelectric devices: From principles to innovative applications

Thermoelectric devices (TEDs), including thermoelectric generators (TEGs) and thermoelectric coolers (TECs) based on the Seebeck and Peltier effects, respectively, are capable of converting heat directly into electricity and vice versa. Tough suffering from low energy conversion efficiency and relatively high capital cost, TEDs have found niche applications, such as the remote power source for spacecraft, solid-state refrigerators, waste heat recycling, and so on. In particular, on-chip integrable micro thermoelectric devices (μ-TEDs), which can realize local thermal management, on-site temperature sensing, and energy harvesting under minor temperature gradient, could play an important role in biological sensing and cell cultivation, self-powered Internet of Things (IoT), and wearable electronics. In this review, starting from the basic principles of thermoelectric devices, we summarize the most critical parameters for μ-TEDs, design guidelines, and most recent advances in the fabrication process. In addition, some innovative applications of μ-TEDs, such as in combination with microfluidics and photonics, are demonstrated in detail.     

Review of electronic transport models for thermoelectric materials

Thermoelectric devices have gained importance in recent years as viable solutions for applications such as spot cooling of electronic components, remote power generation in space stations and satellites etc. These solid-state devices have long been known for their reliability rather than their efficiency; they contain no moving parts, and their performance relies primarily on material selection, which has not generated many excellent candidates. Research in recent years has been focused on developing both thermoelectric structures and materials that have high efficiency. In general, thermoelectric research is two-pronged with (1) experiments focused on finding new materials and structures with enhanced thermoelectric performance and (2) analytical models that predict thermoelectric behavior to enable better design and optimization of materials and structures. While numerous reviews have discussed the importance of and dependence on materials for thermoelectric performance, an overview of how to predict the performance of various materials and structures based on fundamental quantities is lacking. In this paper we present a review of the theoretical models that were developed since thermoelectricity was first observed in 1821 by Seebeck and how these models have guided experimental material search for improved thermoelectric devices. A new quantum model is also presented, which provides opportunities for the optimization of nanoscale materials to enhance thermoelectric performance.     

Nanoscale thermal transport: Theoretical method and application

With the size reduction of nanoscale electronic devices, the heat generated by the unit area in integrated circuits will be increasing exponentially, and consequently the thermal management in these devices is a very important issue. In addition, the heat generated by the electronic devices mostly diffuses to the air in the form of waste heat, which makes the thermoelectric energy conversion also an important issue for nowadays. In recent years, the thermal transport properties in nanoscale systems have attracted increasing attention in both experiments and theoretical calculations. In this review, we will discuss various theoretical simulation methods for investigating thermal transport properties and take a glance at several interesting thermal transport phenomena in nanoscale systems. Our emphasizes will lie on the advantage and limitation of calculational method, and the application of nanoscale thermal transport and thermoelectric property.     

Graphene for Thermoelectric Applications: Prospects and Challenges

Thermoelectric power generators require high-efficiency thermoelectric materials to transform waste heat into usable electrical energy. An efficient thermoelectric material should have high Seebeck coefficient and excellent electrical conductivity as well as low thermal conductivity. Graphene, the first truly 2D nanomaterial, exhibits unique properties which suit it for use in thermoelectric power generators, but its application in thermoelectrics is limited by the high thermal conductivity and low Seebeck coefficient resulting from its gapless spectrum. However, with the possibility of modification of graphene's band structure to enhance Seebeck coefficient and the reduction of its thermal conductivity, it is an exciting prospect for application in thermoelectric power generation. This article examines the electronic, optical, thermal, and thermoelectric properties of graphene systems. The factors that contribute to these material properties in graphene systems like charge carriers scattering mechanisms are discussed. A salient aspect of this article is a synergistic perspective on the reduction of thermal conductivity and improvement of Seebeck coefficient of graphene for a higher thermoelectric energy conversion efficiency. In this regard, the effect of graphene nanostructuring and doping, forming of structural defects, as well as graphene integration into a polymer matrix on its thermal conductivity and Seebeck coefficient is elucidated.     

硒化亚铜薄膜热电性能研究进展

热电材料可以实现热能和电能的相互转换,它是一种环境友好的功能性材料.当前,热电材料的热电转换效率低,这严重制约了热电器件的大规模应用,因此寻找更加优异热电性能的新材料或提高传统热电材料的热电性能成为热电研究的主题.与块状材料相比,薄膜具有二维的宏观性质和一维的纳米结构特性,方便研究材料的物理机制与性能的关系,还适用于制备可穿戴电子设备.本文总结了Cu₂Se薄膜5种不同的制备方法,包括电化学沉积、热蒸发、旋涂、溅射以及脉冲激光沉积.另外,结合典型事例,总结了薄膜的表征手段,并从Cu₂Se的电导率、塞贝克系数和热导率等参数出发,讨论了各个参数对热电性能的影响机制.最后介绍了Cu₂Se薄膜热电的热门应用方向.     

Excellent thermoelectric performance predicted in Sb2Te with natural superlattice structure

Using first-principles calculations combined with the Boltzmann transport theory, we explore the thermoelectric properties of natural superlattice (SL) structure Sb₂Te. The results show that n-type Sb₂Te possesses larger Seebeck coefficient of 249.59 (318.87) μV/K than p-type Sb₂Te of 219.85 (210.38) μV/K and low lattice thermal conductivity of 1.25 (0.21) W/mK along the in-plane (out-of-plane) direction at 300 K. The excellent electron transport performance is mainly attributed to steeper density of state around the bottom of conduction band. The ultralow lattice thermal conductivity of Sb₂Te is mainly caused by low phonon group velocity and strong anharmonicity. Further analysis shows that the decrease of group velocity comes from flatter dispersion curves which are contributed by the Brillouin-zone folding. The strong anharmonicity is mainly due to the presence of lone-pair electrons in Sb₂Te. Combining such a high Seebeck coefficient with the low lattice thermal conductivity, maximum n-type thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of 1.46 and 1.38 could be achieved along the in-plane and out-of-plane directions at room temperature, which is higher than the reported values of Sb₂Te₃. The findings presented here provide insight into the transport property of Sb₂Te and highlight potential applications of thermoelectric materials at room temperature.     

Advances in thermoelectrics

Thermoelectric generators, capable of directly converting heat into electricity, hold great promise for tackling the ever-increasing energy sustainability issue. The thermoelectric energy conversion efficiency is heavily dependent upon the materials’ performance that is quantified by the dimensionless figure-of-merit (ZT). Therefore, the central issue in the research of thermoelectric materials lies in continuously boosting the ZT value. Although thermoelectric effects were discovered in the nineteenth century, it was only until the 1950s when classic materials like Bi₂Te₃ and PbTe were developed and basic science of thermoelectrics was established. However, the research of thermoelectrics did not take a smooth path but a rather tortuous one with ups and downs. After hiatus in the 1970s and 1980s, relentless efforts starting from the 1990s were devoted to understanding the transport and coupling of electrons and phonons, identifying strategies for improving the thermoelectric performance of existing materials, and discovering new promising compounds. Rewardingly, substantial improvements in materials’ performance have been achieved that broke the ZT limit of unity. Meanwhile, advancements in fundamental understanding related to thermoelectrics have also been made. In this Review, recent advances in the research of thermoelectric materials are overviewed. Herein, strategies for improving and decoupling the individual thermoelectric parameters are first reviewed, together with a discussion on open questions and distinctly different opinions. Recent advancements on a number of good thermoelectric materials are highlighted and several newly discovered promising compounds are discussed. Existing challenges in the research of thermoelectric materials are outlined and an outlook for the future thermoelectrics research is presented. The paper concludes with a discussion of topics in other fields but related to thermoelectricity.     

用扫描热显微镜测量微小区域热导性质的探讨

随着高新技术的迅速发展,许多研究对象已进入亚微米和纳米范畴。在对这些对象的热性能和热可靠性的研究中,亚微米尺度的热物性测量已成为关键技术之一。例如：在微电子、微电子机械系统（MEMS）领域中,已使用纳米量级厚度的材质和做出纳米尺度线宽的器件。在材料科学、生物学、医学和化学等许多领域,高空间分辨率下的热物性测量也具有重要意义。本文经过实验;初步用扫描热显微镜判定了微小区域材料热导性质的差别,并从理论上探讨了用该仪器测量微小区域热导性质的方法原理。     

热电发电机驱动热电制冷机联合系统最优性能

用非平衡热力学与有限时间热力学相结合的方法,考虑装置内部的Seebeck效应、Peltier效应、焦耳热效应、傅立叶效应及装置与热源间传热损失,建立了牛顿传热规律下热电发电机驱动热电制冷机联合系统的有限时间热力学模型,得到装置制冷率和制冷系数的解析式.在装置热电单元总数和换热器总换热面积一定的条件下,优化热电单元和换热面积的分配,获得装置的最大制冷率和制冷系数,并着重分析了热电发电机高温热源温度和热电制冷机制冷空间温度对装置最优性能的影响.结果表明,优化可以有效地提高装置制冷率和制冷系数,增大装置极限制冷温差,拓宽装置工作范围.     

Enhanced thermoelectric properties in two-dimensional monolayer Si2BN by adsorbing halogen atoms

Using the first principles calculation and Boltzmann transport theory, we study the thermoelectric properties of Si2BNadsorbing halogen atoms (Si2BN-4X, X = F, Cl, Br, and I). The results show that the adsorption of halogen atoms cansignificantly regulate the energy band structure and lattice thermal conductivity of Si2BN. Among them, Si2BN-4I has thebest thermoelectric performance, the figure of merit can reach 0.50 K at 300 K, which is about 16 times greater than that ofSi2BN. This is because the adsorption of iodine atoms not only significantly increases the Seebeck coefficient due to banddegeneracy, but also rapidly reduces the phonon thermal conductivity by enhancing phonon scattering. Our work proves theapplication potential of Si2BN-based crystals in the field of thermoelectricity and the effective method for metal crystals toopen bandgaps by adsorbing halogens.     

低维纳米材料量子热输运与自旋热电性质 ——非平衡格林函数方法的应用

低维材料不断涌现的新奇性质吸引着科学研究者的目光. 除了电子的量子输运行为之外, 人们也陆续发现和确认了热输运中显著的量子行为, 如 热导低温量子化、声子子带、尺寸效应、瓶颈效应等. 这些小尺度体系的热输运性质可以很好地用非平衡格林函数来描述. 本文首先介绍了量子热输运的特性、声子非平衡格林函数方法及其在低维纳米材料中的研究进展; 其次回顾了近年来在 一系列低维材料中发现的热-自旋输运现象. 这些自旋热学现象展现了全新的热电转换机制, 有助于设计新型的热电转换器件, 同时也给出了用热产生自旋流的新途径; 最后介绍了线性响应理论以及在此理论框架下结合声子、电子非平衡格林函数方法进行的一些有益的探索. 量子热输运的研究对热效应基础研究以及声子学器件、能量转换器件的发展有着不可替代的重要作用.     

热电材料研究中的基础物理问题

热电转换技术主要包括利用半导体材料的泽贝克（Seebeck）效应将热能直接转化成电能和利用佩尔捷（Peltier）效应直接将电能转化成热能.文章简单回顾了热电转换材料中的物理效应及相关研究进展,重点介绍了常规热电材料（即窄带半导体）中的一些基本物理问题,其中包括一个好的热电材料应该具有的特性,以及提高半导体材料的电导率和泽贝克系数,降低热导率的物理机制和方法.文章还介绍了近年来电子晶体-声子玻璃类材料以及低维热电材料等热点问题的研究进展.最后还简单讨论了非常规热电材料的研究现状与趋势.     

Thermoelectric materials – Compromising between high efficiency and materials abundance

In the context of CO₂ neutral and regenerative energy production, the field of thermoelectrics has shifted more and more into the focus of scientific research in the last few years. Particularly a lot of research projects were started in the field of energy autarkic sensor technology and the so called energy harvesting, i.e. the recycling of otherwise lost energy. A potentially huge industrial branch for thermoelectric applications is the automotive industry with a main emphasis on generating electricity out of the waste heat of combustion engines with the help of thermoelectric generators or using Peltier cooling to replace conventional air conditioning in the passenger compartment. In addition, many niche applications are possible, e.g. as sensors for measuring the air pressure of tires etc. The applications of thermoelectric devices are very versatile. We analyse the potential of the state‐of‐the‐art thermoelectric materials SiGe, PbTe, Bi₂Te₃, FeSi₂ and potentially ZnO with respect to employment in four types of applications, classified by mobile vs stationary and specialized vs. mass application. The selection criteria comprise efficiency, materials availability, costs, environmental friendliness and toxicity. Based on these criteria, a decision matrix for choosing the appropriate material system for a specific application is defined. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

High‐temperature thermoelectric properties of p‐type skutterudites Ybx Co3FeSb12

Partially filled polycrystalline p‐type skutterudites of nominal compositions Yb_x Co₃FeSb₁₂ were synthesized and their thermoelectric properties characterized. The compositions and filling fractions were confirmed with a combination of Rietveld refinement and elemental analysis. The thermoelectric properties were evaluated from 300 K to 810 K. The Seebeck coefficient and resistivity increase while the thermal conductivity decreases with increasing Yb content. A maximum ZT value of 0.85 was obtained at 810 K. This work is part of a continuing effort to enhance the thermoelectric properties of p‐type skutterudites, as this class of materials continues to be of interest for thermoelectrics applications. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Lattice thermal conductivity crossovers in semiconductor nanowires

For binary compound semiconductor nanowires, we find a striking relationship between the nanowire's thermal conductivity kappa(nwire), the bulk material's thermal conductivity kappa(bulk), and the mass ratio of the material's constituent atoms, r, as kappa(bulk)/kappa(nwire) (alpha) (1+1/r)(-3/2). A significant consequence is the presence of crossovers in which a material with higher bulk thermal conductivity than the rest is no longer the best nanowire thermal conductor. We show that this behavior stems from a change in the dominant phonon scattering mechanism with decreasing nanowire size. The results have important implications for nanoscale heat dissipation, thermoelectricity, and thermal conductivity of nanocomposites.     

Investigation of the thermoelectric properties of one-layer transition metal dichalcogenides

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have attracted various research interests as one of the priorities of materials research due to their promising properties, especially in the field of thermoelectricity. The efficiency or performance of thermoelectric devices is expressed in terms of the thermoelectric figure-of-merit (ZT) – a standard indicator of a material's thermoelectric properties for use in cooling systems. The evaluation of ZT is principally determined by the thermoelectric characteristics of the nanomaterials. In this paper, a set of investigative computations was performed to study the thermoelectric properties of monolayer TMDCs according to the semiclassical treatment of the Boltzmann transport equation. It was confirmed that the thermoelectric properties of 2D materials can be greatly improved compared with their bulk properties. Calculations show an improvement in the power factor for the TMDCs under consideration, and, thus, the ZT compared to the bulk state due to an improvement in the Seebeck modulus and electrical conductivity, without significantly affecting the thermal conductivity and negatively affecting the ZT. These materials show clear characteristic variations at room temperature, with the highest ZT values of 2.919 and 2.873 obtained for WSe2 and WS2, respectively.     

Dynamical stability,electronic and thermoelectric properties of quaternary ZnFeTiSi Heusler compound

We investigated the dynamical stability, electronic and thermoelectric properties of the ZnFeTiSi Heusler compound by combining the first-principles calculations and semi-classical Boltzmann transport theory. The phonon dispersion indicates the dynamical stability and the calculated formation energy is negative which confirm the stability of ZnFeTiSi in the Heusler structure. The calculated electronic structures show that ZnFeTiSi is a semiconductor with an indirect band gap of about 0.573 eV using GGA and 0.643 eV by mBJ-GGA potentials at equilibrium lattice parameter (5.90 Å). Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity and electronic thermal conductivity were calculated to describe the thermoelectric properties of the ZnFeTiSi compound. It is found that it exhibits high Seebeck coefficient and power factor, making it promising for future thermoelectric applications.     

能源效率、热电效应和纳米技术

文章介绍了能源效率、热电效应以及纳米技术这三者之间的关系。文章首先讨论了能源效率的重要性以及余热浪费对能源效率的影响,然后介绍了材料的热电效应以及利用热电效应使余热发电的可能性和实际应用中的主要障碍。最后阐明了近年来纳米技术的发展使得这一技术有可能取得突破性进展的主要原因。     

Relativistic thermoelectromagnetic gravitational effects in normal conductors and superconductors

The general principles needed to compute the effect of a stationary gravitational field on the thermoelectric phenomena in normal conductors and superconductors are formulated from a general relativistic point of view. These principles are then applied to a variety of devices which can, in principle, measure the gravitational field. Generalizations of the Thomson, Seebeck, Peltier and Josephson effects and the London moment are obtained.