Introduction to Thermoelectricity L1.1: Theory - Introduction

Thermoelectricity is the basis of thermoelectric coolers and generators.

• thermoelectric coolers work by moving charge carriers from the top to the bottom, carrying thermal energy with them.
• thermoelectric generators convert heat into electricity by allowing carriers to diffuse from the hot end to the cooler end.
• Efficiency is a key aspect in thermoelectric devices, with the figure of merit (ZT) playing a crucial role.
• The figure of merit depends on five transport coefficients: electrical conductivity, electronic thermal conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, Peltier coefficient, and lattice thermal conductivity.
• Commercial thermoelectric technology currently has a figure of merit of about 1, but increasing it to 3 or 4 could lead to broader applications.
• High-performance thermoelectric materials have complex band structures and phonon structures, making analysis challenging.
• A book by Jiang Looked Young and Mark Lundstrom provides more in-depth mathematical details on thermoelectric theory.
• The lecture will cover topics such as electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, Peltier coefficient, electronic thermal conductivity, figure of merit, and lattice thermal conductivity.

Researchers/Sources Featured

• Mark Lundström
• Professor Alicia Curie
• Abram Iya Fee
• Jiang Looked Young