Cooling power of transverse thermoelectrics for cryogenic cooling

Yang Tang, Ming Ma, Matthew A Grayson*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Transverse Peltier coolers have been experimentally and theoretically studied since 1960s due to their capability of achieving cooling in a single-leg geometry. Recently proposed pxn-type transverse thermoelectrics reveal the possibility of intrinsic or undoped transverse coolers that can, in principle, function at cryogenic temperatures, which has drawn more attention to the performance of such transverse coolers. However, unlike longitudinal thermoelectrics, the equations for transverse thermoelectrics cannot be solved analytically. In this study, we therefore calculate the thermoelectric transport in transverse coolers numerically, and introduce a normalized notation, which reduces the independent parameters in the governing equations to a normalized electric field E∗ and a hot-side transverse figure of merit zTh, only. A numerical study of the maximum cooling temperature difference and cooling power reveals the superior performance of transverse thermoelectric coolers compared to longitudinal coolers with the same figure of merit, providing another motivation in the search for new transverse thermoelectric materials with large figure of merit.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationTri-Technology Device Refrigeration (TTDR)
EditorsIngo N. Ruhlich, Bjorn F. Andresen, Joseph P. Heremans, Mansoor Sheik-Bahae, Richard I. Epstein, Markus P. Hehlen
PublisherSPIE
Volume9821
ISBN (Electronic)9781510600621
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2016
EventTri-Technology Device Refrigeration (TTDR) - Baltimore, United States
Duration: Apr 19 2016Apr 20 2016

Other

OtherTri-Technology Device Refrigeration (TTDR)
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBaltimore
Period4/19/164/20/16

Keywords

  • Transverse thermoelectrics
  • cooling power
  • normalized transport equations

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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