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Topological insulators for thermoelectrics: A perspective from beneath the surface.
Michael Y Toriyama1, G Jeffrey Snyder1
1Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
Innovation (Cambridge (Mass.))
|March 18, 2025
Summary
Thermoelectric properties of topological insulators are increasingly explored beyond surface states, focusing on overlooked bulk electronic states. Understanding bulk transport is key for next-generation thermoelectric devices.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Solid-State Physics
Background:
- Traditional research on topological insulators (TIs) focused on their metallic surface states for thermoelectric applications.
- Bulk electronic states in TIs have been largely overlooked despite their importance under operating conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review thermoelectric properties unique to TIs, emphasizing unconventional phenomena from bulk states.
- To highlight the significance of bulk charge transport for thermoelectric device performance.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive review of existing literature on TI thermoelectric properties.
- Analysis of experimental discernment of bulk thermoelectric effects using weighted mobility.
Main Results:
- Unconventional thermoelectric effects originating from TI bulk states are identified.
- Band inversion-driven warping in bulk states is shown to be experimentally discernible.
Conclusions:
- Bulk states offer unique thermoelectric phenomena in TIs, crucial for device applications.
- Current understanding of bulk transport in TIs can guide the design of novel thermoelectric materials.
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