Thermopower in oxide heterostructures: The importance of being multiple-band conductors

A. Filippetti*, P. Delugas, M. J. Verstraete, I. Pallecchi, A. Gadaleta, D. Marré, D. F. Li, S. Gariglio, V. Fiorentini

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

We combine transport experiments, advanced ab initio calculations, and model analysis to determine the thermoelectric power in the two-dimensional electron gas formed at the paradigmatic oxide interface SrTiO 3/LaAlO 3. We demonstrate that contrary to popular expectation, quantum confinement does not enhance the thermoelectric power of the electron gas at this interface with respect to its corresponding three-dimensional case. Our analysis directly relates the thermopower behavior to band structure characteristics typical of the oxide heterostructure (i.e., on-site and intersite band splitting), furnishing general interpretive prescriptions to search for oxide heterostructures with improved thermoelectric capabilities.

Original languageEnglish
Article number195301
JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume86
Issue number19
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 5 Nov 2012
Externally publishedYes

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