Field-effect modulation of Seebeck coefficient in single PbSe nanowires

In this Letter, we present a novel strategy to control the thermoelectric properties of individual PbSe nanowires. Using a field-effect gated device, we were able to tune the Seebeck coefficient of single PbSe nanowires from 64 to 193 microV x K(-1). This direct electrical field control of sigma and S suggests a powerful strategy for optimizing ZT in thermoelectric devices. These results represent the first demonstration of field-effect modulation of the thermoelectric figure of merit in a single semiconductor nanowire. This novel strategy for thermoelectric property modulation could prove especially important in optimizing the thermoelectric properties of semiconductors where reproducible doping is difficult to achieve.