Theory for Thermoelectric Effect Control: Transformation Nonlinear Thermoelectricity

Abstract

Temperature-dependent (nonlinear) transformation thermotics provides a powerful tool for designing multifunctional, switchable, or intelligent metamaterials in diffusion systems. However, its extension to multiphysics remains studied, in which the temperature dependence of intrinsic parameters is ubiquitous. Here, we theoretically establish a temperature-dependent transformation method for controlling multiphysics. Taking thermoelectric transport as a typical case, we prove the form invariance of its temperature-dependent governing equations and formulate the corresponding transformation rules. Our finite-element simulations demonstrate robust thermoelectric cloaking, concentrating, and rotating performance in temperature-dependent backgrounds. We further design two practical applications with temperature-dependent transformation: an ambient-responsive cloak-concentrator thermoelectric device that can switch between cloaking and concentrating; an improved thermoelectric cloak with nearly-thermostat performance inside. Our theoretical frameworks and application designs may provide guidance for efficiently controlling temperature-related multiphysics and enlighten subsequent intelligent multiphysical metamaterial research.