A new comparison between solid-state thermionics and thermoelectrics

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that solid-state thermionic and thermoelectric devices share similar efficiency equations and material parameters when device dimensions match the electron mean free path, challenging previous assumptions.

Contribution

It reveals that thermionic and thermoelectric devices have equivalent material parameters and unified efficiency expressions at a specific device width, providing new insights into their fundamental relationship.

Findings

Efficiency equations converge at device width equal to electron mean free path

Materials parameters for thermionic and thermoelectric devices are identical

Challenges previous assumptions about differences in material parameters

Abstract

It is shown that equations for electrical current in solid-state thermionic and thermoelectric devices converge for devices with a width equal to the mean free path of electrons, yielding a common expression for intensive electronic efficiency in the two types of devices. This result is used to demonstrate that the materials parameters for thermionic and thermoelectric devices are equal, rather than differing by a multiplicative factor as previously thought.