Diameter-modulated nanowires as candidates for high thermoelectric energy conversion efficiency

High optimal thermoelectric efficiencies are theoretically demonstrated in ballistic nanowires with diameter modulation. The physics underlying the good thermoelectric performance of diameter-modulated nanowires is the strong energy dependence of their transmission coefficients. It is shown that the thermoelectric efficiency is directly related to the geometry of the diameter modulation. It becomes evident that geometry optimization can lead to efficient thermoelectric devices based on modulated nanowires. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3523360]