On a carbon nanostructure-based thermoelectric converter with record parameters

There is a new idea to enhance the Seebeck coefficient using electron drag by a heat flux and decrease the thermal conductivity by heat dissipation at the interfaces between graphite- and diamond-like areas in a composite formed from carbon nanostructures. The proposed thermoelectric converter is based on a thin (20–50 nm) graphite-like layer located at an ultra-short distance from the diamond-like area. According to estimation, a thermoelectric power higher than in the case of diffusion by a factor of 10$^3$ can be attained. Under ideal conditions, this allows a room-temperature thermoelectric efficiency of 150 to be obtained.