Enhanced thermoelectricity in composites by electronic structure modifications and nanostructuring

The thermoelectric performance of nanocomposites with locally distorted density of states is investigated. The analytical expressions we have derived allow us to explore the effects of localized states modeled as Lorentzians on the materials transport properties in terms of their sharpness and locations relative to the Fermi level. Further optimization of the transport through nanostructuring design is also explored. We show that composites with both locally distorted density of states and nanostructure integration open the possibility for significant enhancement of the thermoelectric performance at room temperature. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3464288]