학술논문

Spin entropy as the likely source of enhanced thermopower in $\rm\bf Na_xCo_2O_4
Document Type
Working Paper
Source
Nature 423, 425 (2003)
Subject
Condensed Matter - Strongly Correlated Electrons
Condensed Matter - Materials Science
Language
Abstract
In an electric field, the flow of electrons in a solid produces an entropy current in addition to the familiar charge current. This Peltier effect underlies all thermoelectric refrigerators. The upsurge in thermoelectric cooling applications has led to a search for more efficient Peltier materials and to renewed theoretical interest in how electron-electron interaction may enhance the thermopower $Q$ of materials such as the transition-metal oxides \cite{Mahan,Beni,Kotliar,Chaikin}. An important factor in this enhancement is the electronic spin entropy, which is predicted \cite{Chaikin,Kwak,KwakChaikin} to dominate the entropy current. Here we report evidence for such suppression in the layered oxide $\rm Na_xCo_2O_4$, and present evidence that it is a strong-correlation effect.
Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, already published