The thermoelectric working fluid: thermodynamics and transport

TL;DR

This paper explores the thermodynamic and transport properties of the electronic working fluid in thermoelectric devices, aiming to deepen understanding and improve efficiency through comprehensive modeling.

Contribution

It provides a systematic thermodynamic analysis of the electronic working fluid, including various models and interactions, filling a gap in existing research.

Findings

Enhanced understanding of thermodynamic behavior of electronic fluids

Analysis of transport properties across different models

Insights into optimizing thermoelectric efficiency

Abstract

Thermoelectric devices are heat engines, which operate as generators or refrigerators using the conduction electrons as a working fluid. The thermoelectric heat-to-work conversion efficiency has always been typically quite low, but much effort continues to be devoted to the design of new materials boasting improved transport properties that would make them of the electron crystal-phonon glass type of systems. On the other hand, there are comparatively few studies where a proper thermodynamic treatment of the electronic working fluid is proposed. The present article aims to contribute to bridge this gap by addressing both the thermodynamic and transport properties of the thermoelectric working fluid covering a variety of models, including interacting systems.