Thermoelectric properties of quantum dot chains

We have studied the thermoelectric properties of quantum dot (QD) chain nanocomposites in which the QDs are aligned to form chains. In both the InAs/GaAs and Ge/Si systems, we use a constant relaxation time approximation to calculate and compare the electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and thermoelectric power factor for QD chains, three-dimensional ordered QD arrays, random QD arrays, and bulk GaAs or Si. Our calculations suggest that the incorporation of QD chains into a matrix increases its thermoelectric power factor by a factor of 3 (1.5) for the InAs/GaAs (Ge/Si) system.