Improving the Thermoelectric Properties of the Material and Increasing the Efficiency of Conversion Processes

Abstract

The area of practical application of thermoelectric materials depends on the value of the thermoelectric figure of merit. The use of semiconductor materials makes it possible to realize the conditions under which the ratio of their parameters ensures the achievement of high values of thermoelectric figure of merit. The achievement of the maximum thermoelectric figure of merit causes an increase in the efficiency of conversion processes due to the improvement of the thermoelectric properties of the material. The position of the maximum value of the thermoelectric figure of merit is predetermined by the scattering parameters and the ratio of the mobilities and effective masses of charge carriers. The nature of the change in electrical conductivity is determined by the behavior of the concentration of charge carriers. Thermal conductivity, like electrical conductivity, is proportional to the concentration of electrons and the mean free path. An increase in thermoelectric efficiency is achieved by optimizing thermoelectric parameters by doping and improving the properties of com¬pounds, which leads to an optimization of the concentration of charge carriers, a change in the density of states, and a decrease in the phonon component of thermal conductivity. The improvement of the thermoelectric properties of the material and the increase in the efficiency of the conversion processes are provided at a certain concentration of charge carriers, which corresponds to the optimal value.