Inhomogeneously doped thermoelectric nanomaterials

Abstract

Inhomogeneously doped thermoelectric nanomaterials with a delta-function electronic density of states can operate with Carnot efficiency in the absence of phonon heat leaks. Here we self-consistently calculate the efficiency and power from open-circuit to short-circuit of a simple model of a thermoelectric nanomaterial with a narrow peak in the electronic density of states and finite lattice thermal conductivity, comparing the results for inhomogeneous and homogeneous doping. For power generation between 800K and 300K, we find that not only does inhomogeneous doping increase the maximum efficiency by 10%, but it also increases the maximum power by up to 60%.