H. Y. Lv

Enhanced thermoelectric performance of graphene nanoribbons

The thermoelectric properties of a series of armchair and zigzag graphene nanoribbons with narrow width are examined using nonequilibrium Green function method and molecular dynamics simulations. It is found that these nanoribbons are rather stable when the edge atoms are passivated by hydrogen and those with armchair edges exhibit much better thermoelectric performance than their zigzag counterparts. Moreover, the corresponding ZT value increases with decreasing ribbon width. By optimizing the doping level, a room temperature ZT of 6.0 can be achieved for the narrowest armchair nanoribbon. The significantly enhanced ZT value makes armchair graphene nanoribbon a promising candidate for thermoelectric applications.

Thermoelectric properties of armchair and zigzag silicene nanoribbons

Using the nonequilibrium Greens function method and nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations, we discuss the possibility of using silicene nanoribbons (SiNRs) as high performance thermoelectric materials. It is found that SiNRs are structurally stable if the edge atoms are passivated by hydrogen, and those with armchair edges usually exhibit much better thermoelectric performance than their zigzag counterparts. The room temperature ZT value of armchair SiNRs shows a width-dependent oscillating decay, while it decreases slowly with increasing ribbon width for the zigzag SiNRs. In addition, there is a strong temperature dependence of the thermoelectric performance of these SiNRs. Our theoretical calculations indicate that by optimizing the doping level and applied temperature, the ZT value of SiNRs could be enhanced to as high as 4.9 which suggests their very appealing thermoelectric applications.

Enhanced thermoelectric performance of (Sb0.75Bi0.25)2Te3 compound from first-principles calculations

The electronic properties of (Sb0.75Bi0.25)2Te3 compound are examined by using the full-potential linearized augmented plane-wave method. The transport coefficients are then calculated within the semiclassical Boltzmann theory, and further evaluated as a function of chemical potential assuming a rigid band picture and constant relaxation time. The ZT value is thus estimated by inserting an averaged thermal conductivity. Our theoretical calculations give a valuable insight on how to enhance the thermoelectric performance of this compound, and many potential doping elements and their optimal concentrations are suggested.

Optimizing the thermoelectric performance of zigzag and chiral carbon nanotubes

Using nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations and nonequilibrium Greens function method, we investigate the thermoelectric properties of a series of zigzag and chiral carbon nanotubes which exhibit interesting diameter and chirality dependence. Our calculated results indicate that these carbon nanotubes could have higher ZT values at appropriate carrier concentration and operating temperature. Moreover, their thermoelectric performance can be significantly enhanced via isotope substitution, isoelectronic impurities, and hydrogen adsorption. It is thus reasonable to expect that carbon nanotubes may be promising candidates for high-performance thermoelectric materials.