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. 1996 Jul 23;93(15):7436-9.
doi: 10.1073/pnas.93.15.7436.

The best thermoelectric

G D Mahan  1 , J O Sofo
Affiliations

The best thermoelectric

G D Mahan et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. .

Abstract

What electronic structure provides the largest figure of merit for thermoelectric materials? To answer that question, we write the electrical conductivity, thermopower, and thermal conductivity as integrals of a single function, the transport distribution. Then we derive the mathematical function for the transport distribution, which gives the largest figure of merit. A delta-shaped transport distribution is found to maximize the thermoelectric properties. This result indicates that a narrow distribution of the energy of the electrons participating in the transport process is needed for maximum thermoelectric efficiency. Some possible realizations of this idea are discussed.

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