Very high thermoelectric power factor in a Fe3O4/SiO2/p-type Si(100)heterostructure

Abstract

The thermoelectric and transport properties of a Fe3O4/SiO2/p-Si(100) heterostructure have been investigated between 100 and 300 K. Both Hall and Seebeck coefficients change sign from negative to positive with increasing temperature while the resistivity drops sharply due to tunneling of carriers into the p-Si(100). The low resistivity and large Seebeck coefficient of Si give a very high thermoelectric power factor of 25.5mW/K2m at 260K which is an underestimated, lower limit value and is related to the density of states and difference in the work functions of Fe3O4 and Si(100) that create an accumulation of majority holes at the p-Si/SiO2 interface