Anisotropic thermoelectric devices based on single-crystal semimetal microwires and films

Abstract

We present a demonstration of an unconventional thermoelectric energy conversion that is based on a single element made of an anisotropic material. In such materials, a heat flow generates a transverse thermoelectric electric field lying across the heat flow. Potentially, in applications involving miniature devices, the anisotropic thermoelectric effect has the advantage over traditional thermoelectrics that it simplifies the thermoelectric generator architecture.