Influence of a compressive strain on the high-temperature thermoelectric (TE) properties of europium orthoferrite

Abstract

Promising high-temperature thermoelectric (TE) potential of europium orthoferrite (EuFeO₃) is investigated in this work, wherein the focus is on the influence of a −3% compressive strain on scattering rates and transport properties. Using Boltzmann transport theory, transport properties such as Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, electronic thermal conductivity and power factor are obtained with appropriate regard on the prevailing scattering mechanisms in the materials that affect its electronic transport. Here, we find that polar optical phonon (POP) scattering is the dominant scattering potential affecting the TE properties of EuFeO₃ for temperatures from 900 K to 1500 K. The incorporation of a −3% compressive strain suppresses the POP scattering, as evidenced by the decrease in its scattering rates. This result consequently enhances the lattice thermal conductivity, which negatively impacts the TE efficiency. Nevertheless, we find that the strain largely improves the electrical conductivity and the power factor.