The best thermoelectric.

TLDR

The paper discusses potential realizations of the delta‑shaped transport distribution concept. The study seeks to identify the electronic structure that yields the highest figure of merit for thermoelectric materials. The authors model conductivity, thermopower, and thermal conductivity as integrals over a transport distribution and derive the function that maximizes the figure of merit. They find that a delta‑shaped transport distribution maximizes thermoelectric performance, indicating that a narrow energy distribution of charge carriers is required for optimal efficiency.

Abstract

What electronic structure provides the largest figure of merit for thermoelectric materials? To answer that question, we write the electrical conductivity, thermopower, and thermal conductivity as integrals of a single function, the transport distribution. Then we derive the mathematical function for the transport distribution, which gives the largest figure of merit. A delta-shaped transport distribution is found to maximize the thermoelectric properties. This result indicates that a narrow distribution of the energy of the electrons participating in the transport process is needed for maximum thermoelectric efficiency. Some possible realizations of this idea are discussed.