Summary of 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