MODERN THERMOELECTRICS

D M Rowe and C M Bhandari, Holt-Saunders Ltd, 1983.

During the second half of twentieth century research on thermoelectrics was motivated primarily due to energy considerations and the need to search alternative sources. The science of thermoelectricity had never been taken seriously in the context of energy conversion. However, the use of semiconductors in place of metals changed the whole

Scenario and due to their relatively large Seebeck coefficients themoelectric generators and refrigerators became areas of intense activity. Although conversion efficiency was still small these devices were found to be important for specific applications. A large number of semiconductors were investigated for their suitability as thermoelements and there were theoretical and experimental researches directed at increasing the device efficiency. The book presents a general outline of the subject along with the necessary theoretical framework. Various models to deal with optimization of figure-of-merit are described. A detailed discussion of the experimental work along with materials for use in generators and refrigerators are described. 

Thermal Conduction in Semiconductors

C M Bhandari and D M Rowe

Wiley Eastern Ltd., New Delhi, 1988.

The book deals with the subject of thermal transport in semiconductors.

Depending upon the level of doping a semiconductor could have a concentration of electrons(holes) that may range from very low on the one hand to very high carrier concentrations reaching near metallic situations. Thermal transport in semiconductors requires an understanding of electronic as well as the lattice transport processes.

Starting with basic concepts and measurement techniques the text deals with electronic transport coefficients. Nonparabolic nature of electron energy bands and its effect on thermal transport has been dealt with for carrier scattering mechanisms based on acoustic and optic phonons.

Phonon transport has been discussed within the framework of Boltzmann equation approach. Klemens callaway approach has been widely used over the decades in the analysis of lattice thermal conductivity and various models have been described along with application to various semiconductors. Group IV and III-V semiconductors have been discussed in detail. Amorphous, organic and magnetic semiconductors are also described in brief. The effect of random inhomogeneities on thermal transport and applications of thermal conductivity studies are among the other topics discussed.