The characterization of thermoelectric properties of nanoscale materials is a current topic of intensive research. Especially bismuth nanowires are very attractive because of their extraordinary properties and possible applications in thermoelectric devices. For the calculation of the thermoelectric figure of merit z = α2σ/λ, the Seebeck coefficient α, the electrical conductivity σ and the ther...

We consider an optimization problem in thermoelectric cooling. The maximum achievable cooling temperature in thermoelectric cooling is, among other things, affected by the Seebeck coefficient profile of the inhomogeneous materials. Mathematically, the maximum cooling temperature is a non-linear functional of the Seebeck coefficient function. In this study, we solve this optimization problem exa...

We propose a novel actuation mechanism for colloids, which is based on the Seebeck effect of the electrolyte solution: Laser heating of a nonionic particle accumulates in its vicinity a net charge Q, which is proportional to the excess temperature at the particle surface. The corresponding long-range thermoelectric field E is proportional to 1/r(2) provides a tool for controlled interactions wi...

The recently discovered spin Seebeck effect refers to a spin current induced by a temperature gradient in a ferromagnetic material. It combines spin degrees of freedom with caloric properties, opening the door for the invention of new, spin caloritronic devices. Using spin model simulations as well as an innovative, multiscale micromagnetic framework we show that magnonic spin currents caused b...

Energy filtering has been put forth as a promising method for achieving large thermoelectric power factors in thermoelectric materials through Seebeck coefficient improvement. Materials with embedded potential barriers, such as cross-plane superlattices, provide energy filtering, in addition to low thermal conductivity, and could potentially achieve high figure of merit. Although there exist ma...

Low dimensional and nanostructured materials have shown great potential to achieve much higher thermoelectric figure of merits than their bulk counterparts. Here, we study the thermoelectric properties of superlattices in the cross-plane direction using the Boltzmann transport equation and taking into account multiple minibands. Poisson equation is solved self-consistently to include the effect...