Transport property analysis method for thermoelectric materials: Material quality factor and the effective mass model(∗)

Stephen Dongmin Kang, G. Jeffrey Snyder

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

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Thermoelectric semiconducting materials are often evaluated by their figure-of-merit, zT. However, by using zT as the metric for showing improvements, it is not immediately clear whether the improvement is from an enhancement of the inherent material property or from optimization of the carrier concentration. Here, we review the quality factor approach which allows one to separate these two contributions even without Hall measurements. We introduce practical methods that can be used without numerical integration. We discuss the underlying effective mass model behind this method and show how it can be further advanced to study complex band structures using the Seebeck effective mass. We thereby dispel the common misconception that the usefulness of effective band models is limited to single parabolic band materials.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of the International School of Physics "Enrico Fermi" on Advances in Thermoelectricity
Subtitle of host publicationFoundational Issues, Materials and Nanotechnology
EditorsDario Narducci, G. Jeffrey Snyder, Carlo Fanciulli
PublisherIOS Press BV
Pages27-36
Number of pages10
ISBN (Electronic)9781643681726
DOIs
StatePublished - May 27 2021
Event2019 International School of Physics "Enrico Fermi" on Advances in Thermoelectricity: Foundational Issues, Materials and Nanotechnology - Varenna, Italy
Duration: Jul 15 2019Jul 20 2019

Publication series

NameProceedings of the International School of Physics "Enrico Fermi"
Volume207
ISSN (Print)0074-784X
ISSN (Electronic)1879-8195

Conference

Conference2019 International School of Physics "Enrico Fermi" on Advances in Thermoelectricity: Foundational Issues, Materials and Nanotechnology
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityVarenna
Period7/15/197/20/19

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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