High Performance Graphene Nano-ribbon Thermoelectric Devices by Incorporation and Dimensional Tuning of Nanopores

Abstract

Thermoelectric properties of Graphene nano-ribbons (GNRs) with nanopores (NPs) are explored for a range of pore dimensions in order to achieve a high performance two-dimensional nano-scale thermoelectric device. We reduce thermal conductivity of GNRs by introducing pores in them in order to enhance their thermoelectric performance. The electrical properties (Seebeck coefficient and conductivity) of the device usually degrade with pore inclusion; however, we tune the pore to its optimal dimension in order to minimize this degradation, enhancing the overall thermoelectric performance (high ZT value) of our device. We observe that the side channel width plays an important role to achieve optimal performance while the effect of pore length is less pronounced. This result is consistent with the fact that electronic conduction in GNRs is dominated along its edges. Ballistic transport regime is assumed and a semi-empirical method using Huckel basis set is used to obtain the electrical properties, while the phononic system is characterized by Tersoff empirical potential model. The proposed device structure has potential applications as a nanoscale local cooler and as a thermoelectric power generator.

An artificial nociceptor based on a diffusive memristor

“…In principle, a sensing system consists of a sensor (e.g., thermoelectric or piezoelectric sensors) and a signal processing module, both of which could be an individual nanodevice, leading to high density and low energy operation. While there are more and more nanoscale sensors developed using emerging devices 14 , 15 , the signal processing module still remains bulky because of its complex functions, which can now be obtained using a single diffusive memristor. Particularly, the key features of a nociceptor such as no-adaptation, relaxation and sensitization have been realized in a single device in this study, which would require multiple complicated CMOS circuit units to achieve if possible at all.…”

Pure thermal spin current and perfect spin-filtering with negative differential thermoelectric resistance induced by proximity effect in graphene/silicene junctions

“…As shown in the previous studies (e.g., 46 ), the SDSE can emerge in the graphene-based nanodevices. However, because GE shows an extremely low figure of merit 47 , it was introduced as an inefficient thermoelectric material in the next researches 48 . Hence, GE rarely shows a perfect SDSE.…”

Artificial Somatosensors: Feedback Receptors for Electronic Skins

“…[ 11 ] Still, the bottlenecks remain to demonstrate the fully functional nociceptor for skin with real‐life stimuli, such as temperature, pressure, and pain. Though there are more and more nanoscale sensors being developed using 1D, 2D, and hierarchical 3D nanomaterials, [ 16–20 ] the data processing of the existing sensory systems remains bulky. Moreover, to acquire all the four states of nociceptor (threshold, relaxation, allodynia, and hyperalgesia), multiple CMOS circuit units are required.…”