Unique temperature distribution and explicit efficiency formula for one-dimensional thermoelectric generators under constant Seebeck coefficients

Summary: The traditional theory of thermoelectric materials based on a single parameter zT is inaccurate. The thermoelectric conversion efficiency is actually determined by three independent parameters: Z(gen), tau, and beta. Increasing any of these three degrees of freedom can lead to higher efficiency, suggesting a new direction in material discovery and device design beyond zT.