Springer (part of Springer Nature), Journal of Electronic Materials, 7(42), p. 2030-2034
DOI: 10.1007/s11664-013-2511-5
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Ge/SiGe multiple quantum wells are presented as efficient material for room-temperature thermoelectric generators monolithically integrated onto silicon. We have deposited and characterized 10-μm-thick heterostructures engineered for lateral devices, in which both heat and current flow parallel to the multilayer. In this paper we investigate in detail the structural and interface quality by means of x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Thermoelectric measurements, giving a figure of merit of 0.04 to 0.08, together with mobility spectra and defect analysis suggest possibilities of even higher efficiency. Nevertheless, the high power factor of 2 mW/K2m to 6 mW/K2m is promising for applications.