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Electron-phonon scattering and thermoelectric transport in $p$-type PbTe from first principles
- Source :
- Phys. Rev. B 102, 115204 (2020)
- Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- We present a first principles based model of electron-phonon scattering mechanisms and thermoelectric transport at the L and $\Sigma$ valleys in <200b>$p$-type PbTe, accounting for their thermally induced shifts. Our calculated values of all thermoelectric transport parameters at room temperature are in very good agreement with experiments for a wide range of doping concentrations. Scattering due to longitudinal optical phonons is the main scattering mechanism in $p$-type PbTe, while scattering due to transverse optical modes is the weakest. The L valleys contribute most to thermoelectric transport at 300 K due to the sizeable energy difference between the L and $\Sigma$ valleys. We show that both scattering between the L and $\Sigma$ valleys and additional transport channels of the $\Sigma$ valleys are beneficial for the overall thermoelectric performance of $p$-type PbTe at 300 K. Our findings thus support the idea that materials with high valley degeneracy may be good thermoelectrics.<br />Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures
- Subjects :
- Condensed Matter - Materials Science
Subjects
Details
- Database :
- arXiv
- Journal :
- Phys. Rev. B 102, 115204 (2020)
- Publication Type :
- Report
- Accession number :
- edsarx.2008.10343
- Document Type :
- Working Paper
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.102.115204