Published in

American Institute of Physics, Applied Physics Letters, 17(109), p. 173905

DOI: 10.1063/1.4966686

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

Dislocation loops as a mechanism for thermoelectric power factor enhancement in silicon nano-layers

Journal article published in 2016 by Nick S. Bennett, Daragh Byrne, Aidan Cowley ORCID, Neophytos Neophytou
This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

Full text: Download

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Postprint: archiving allowed
Orange circle
Published version: archiving restricted
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

A more than 70% enhancement in the thermoelectric power factor of single-crystal silicon is demonstrated in silicon nano-films, a consequence of the introduction of networks of dislocation loops and extended crystallographic defects. Despite these defects causing reductions in electrical conductivity, carrier concentration, and carrier mobility, large corresponding increases in the Seebeck coefficient and reductions in thermal conductivity lead to a significant net enhancement in thermoelectric performance. Crystal damage is deliberately introduced in a sub-surface nano-layer within a silicon substrate, demonstrating the possibility to tune the thermoelectric properties at the nano-scale within such wafers in a repeatable, large-scale, and cost-effective way.