Enhanced Seebeck coefficient in EuTe/PbTe [100] short-period superlattices

Theoretical and experimental studies on Seebeck effect in EuTe/PbTe superlattices were performed. Theoretical calculations, which take into account temperature dependent band gap, nonparabolicity, and anisotropy of effective masses in the PbTe conduction band, were performed in the framework of Boltzmann equation in which enhancement of Seebeck coefficient in EuTe/PbTe short-period superlattices grown in [100] direction was predicted. The EuTe/PbTe short-period superlattices with few monolayers EuTe were prepared on KCl (100) substrate and an enhanced Seebeck coefficient was observed in these superlattices as expected by theoretical calculations. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.