Temperature dependence of three-dimensional thermoelectric properties of a free electron gas-like material

Abstract

Regeneration of electricity from waste heat can be done through the use of thermoelectric media. In this work, how the bulk thermoelectric properties vary with temperature were simulated using the Fermi energy for Bi₂Te₃—a promising material for thermoelectric generators. The numerical calculations were based on the equations derived by J. Muldera in 2006 for a free electron gas in three dimensions. The temperature dependence of the thermoelectric properties, such as the thermoelectric power, thermal conductivity and the figure of merit were determined by keeping the number density of charge carriers constant at their Fermi level value. The results show that such a material with a Bi₂Te₃ Fermi level has thermoelectric properties suited for room temperature applications.