Theoretical investigation of thermoelectric transport properties of cylindrical Bi nanowires

Abstract

We report here a theoretical model for the transport properties of cylindrical Bi nanowires. Based on the band structure of Bi nanowires and the semiclassical transport model, the thermoelectric figure of merit ${Z}_{1\mathrm{D}}T$ is calculated for Bi nanowires with various wire diameters and wire orientations. The results show the trigonal axis is the most favorable wire orientation for thermoelectric applications, and ${Z}_{1\mathrm{D}}Tg1$ is predicted for n-type trigonal wires with diameters ${d}_{w}l10$ nm. The effect of the T-point holes on ${Z}_{1\mathrm{D}}T$ is also investigated. It is found that ${Z}_{1\mathrm{D}}T$ can be significantly enhanced, especially for p-type Bi nanowires, if the T-point holes are removed or suppressed.