Publication Date
2018
Department
Ames Laboratory; Physics and Astronomy
Campus Units
Ames Laboratory, Physics and Astronomy
Report Number
IS-J 9574
DOI
10.1039/c7ta09480a
Journal Title
Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Volume Number
6
Issue Number
5
First Page
2018
Last Page
2033
Abstract
Identifying materials with intrinsically high thermoelectric performance remains a challenge even with the aid of a high-throughput search. Here, using a chemically intuitive approach based on the bond-orbital theory, three anisotropic 2D group-V materials (monolayer black phosphorus, alpha-arsenene, and aW-antimonene) are identified as candidates for high thermoelectric energy conversion efficiency. Concepts, such as bond length, bond angle, and bond strength, are used to explain the trends in their electronic properties, such as the band gap and the effective mass. Our first principles calculations confirm that high carrier mobilities and large Seebeck coefficients can be obtained at the same time in these materials, due to complex Fermi surfaces originating from the anisotropic structures. An intuitive understanding of how the bonding character affects phonon transport is also provided with emphasis on the importance of bonding strength and bond anharmonicity. High thermoelectric performance is observed in these materials. Our approach provides a powerful tool to identify new thermoelectric materials and evaluate their transport properties.
Language
en
Department of Energy Subject Categories
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
Publisher
Iowa State University Digital Repository, Ames IA (United States)