Nanowire-based thermoelectric ratchet in the hopping regime

TL;DR

This paper investigates a nanowire-based thermoelectric ratchet operating in the hopping regime, demonstrating its ability to generate electrical current from thermal gradients and its potential as an energy harvester or refrigerator.

Contribution

It introduces a novel thermoelectric ratchet design using disordered nanowires in the hopping regime, analyzing its energy conversion capabilities.

Findings

Finite electrical current generated by temperature difference without external bias

Device can function as an energy harvester converting heat to electricity

Potential to operate as a refrigerator cooling the substrate

Abstract

We study a thermoelectric ratchet consisting of an array of disordered nanowires arranged in parallel on top of an insulating substrate, and contacted asymmetrically to two electrodes. Transport is investigated in the Mott hopping regime, when localized electrons can propagate through the nanowires via thermally assisted hops. When the electronic temperature in the nanowires is different from the phononic one in the substrate, we show that a finite electrical current is generated even in the absence of driving forces between the electrodes. We discuss the device performance both as an energy harvester, when an excess heat from the substrate is converted into useful power, and as a refrigerator, when an external power is supplied to cool down the substrate.