Thermoelectric effects in STM tunneling through a monoatomic chain

Abstract

We study thermoelectric properties of the system composed of a monoatomic chain on a surface and additional electrode coupled to the chain, which can be an STM tip. In particular, we are interested in thermopower, electric and thermal conductance, Wiedemann-Franz relation and thermoelectric figure of merit, which is a direct measure of the usefulness of the system for applications. We discuss the modifications of the STM wire topography due to temperature gradient between the electrodes. Finally, we also make connection to STM experiment, in which the thermopower has been directly measured, showing different structure, not visible in topography spectra.