Title: Thermoelectricity and heat balance in a metal/dot/metal junction

Authors: Adeline Crépieux; Fabienne Michelini

Addresses: Centre de Physique Théorique, 163 avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France. ' Institut Matériaux Microélectronique Nanosciences de Provence, Avenue Escadrille Normandie Niemen, 13397 Marseille, France

Abstract: In this paper, we report on numerical calculations of stationary thermoelectric responses in a metal/dot/metal junction. We derive the Landauer expressions for both the electric and the heat currents, and first discuss the question of heat balance. Secondly, we calculate the Peltier coefficient in the non-linear response regime, and discuss its relation with the Seebeck coefficient, and finally the figure of merit ZT in the linear response. In all regimes, we show how the applied gate voltage is a key parameter to obtain the maximum thermoelectric efficiency through the nanodevice.

Keywords: thermoelectric effect; heat current; quantum dots; nanotechnology; thermoelectricity; heat balance; nanodevices; gate voltage.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2012.045341

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2012 Vol.9 No.3/4/5/6/7, pp.355 - 367

Published online: 06 Feb 2012 *

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