title: The best thermoelectric.
abstract: What electronic structure provides the largest figure of merit for thermoelectric materials? To answer that question, we write the electrical conductivity, thermopower, and thermal conductivity as integrals of a single function, the transport distribution. Then we derive the mathematical function for the transport distribution, which gives the largest figure of merit. A delta-shaped transport distribution is found to maximize the thermoelectric properties. This result indicates that a narrow distribution of the energy of the electrons participating in the transport process is needed for maximum thermoelectric efficiency. Some possible realizations of this idea are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Mahan
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Sofo