Enhancement of the thermopower in Bi wires under anisotropic deformation

Abstract

The prospect of the thermoelectric application of Bi based materials will require the ability to control their parameters. Investigations of Bi wires in a wide range of temperatures, magnetic fields and anisotropic deformation have revealed an effective way to control the magnitude of the thermopower under the influence of uniaxial deformation. Measurements of the thermopower of submicron Bi wires in the temperature range of 4.2 - 77 K, revealed the possibility of changing not only the magnitude and sign of the thermopower coefficient but also the overall nature of the thermopower mechanism under the influence of uniaxial deformation or magnetic field.