Based on the Boltzmann transport equation of electrons and taking the scattering effect of electrons in the grain boundary as the boundary conditions of electrons transport in the grain, we presented a theoretical mod...Based on the Boltzmann transport equation of electrons and taking the scattering effect of electrons in the grain boundary as the boundary conditions of electrons transport in the grain, we presented a theoretical model for the Seebeck coefficient of bulk poly- crystalline thermoelectric materials, and applied it to studying the grain size effect on the Seebeck coefficient. Then we discussed the effects of transmissivity, temperature and the mean free path of electrons on the size effect. The results show that the proposed theoretical model is reasonable and effective and the predicted results for the Seebeck coefficient are in good agreement with the experimental data reported in literature. The bulk polycrystalline materials have notable (big) grain size effects on the Seebeck coefficient, and the influences of transmissivity, temperature and the mean free path of electrons on the Seebeck coefficient are also significant.展开更多
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2007CB607506)National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 10672070)Program for New Century Talent of the Ministry of Education (Grant No. NCET06-0896)
文摘Based on the Boltzmann transport equation of electrons and taking the scattering effect of electrons in the grain boundary as the boundary conditions of electrons transport in the grain, we presented a theoretical model for the Seebeck coefficient of bulk poly- crystalline thermoelectric materials, and applied it to studying the grain size effect on the Seebeck coefficient. Then we discussed the effects of transmissivity, temperature and the mean free path of electrons on the size effect. The results show that the proposed theoretical model is reasonable and effective and the predicted results for the Seebeck coefficient are in good agreement with the experimental data reported in literature. The bulk polycrystalline materials have notable (big) grain size effects on the Seebeck coefficient, and the influences of transmissivity, temperature and the mean free path of electrons on the Seebeck coefficient are also significant.