Effects of random vacancies on the spin-dependent thermoelectric properties of silicene nanoribbon

TL;DR

This study explores how random vacancies in silicene nanoribbons influence their spin-dependent thermoelectric properties, revealing potential for improved thermoelectric devices at room temperature.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of vacancy effects on spin thermoelectricity in silicene nanoribbons using tight-binding and Green's function methods.

Findings

Enhanced charge and spin thermopower due to vacancies

Improved thermoelectric efficiency at room temperature

Defective silicene nanoribbons as promising thermoelectric platforms

Abstract

The spin-dependent thermoelectric properties of silicene nanoribbon heterostructures are investigated, in which the central conductor contains a random distribution of vacancies and is connected to two pristine leads of the same material, placed in proximity to ferromagnetic insulators. The magnetic moments of the leads are analyzed in both parallel and antiparallel configurations. A tight-binding Hamiltonian and the Green's function formalism are employed to calculate the spin-resolved thermoelectric properties of the system as functions of geometrical confinement and vacancy concentration. The results demonstrate an enhancement in charge and spin-dependent thermopower, resulting in an improved thermoelectric efficiency at room temperature, which overcomes the limitations imposed by the classical Wiedemann-Franz law. These findings indicate that defective silicene nanoribbons are promising platforms for the development of efficient thermoelectric and spin-caloritronic devices.