The strong thermoelectric effect in nanocarbon generated by the ballistic phonon drag of electrons

The thermoelectric power and thermoelectric figure of merit for carbon nanostructure consisting of graphite-like (sp2) and diamond-like (sp3) regions have been investigated. The probability of electron collisions with quasi-ballistic phonons in sp2 regions has been analysed for the first time. We have shown that the probability is not small. We have analysed the influence of various factors on the process of the electron-ballistic phonon drag (the phonon drag effect). The thermoelectric power and thermoelectric figure of merit under conditions of ballistic transport were found to be substantially higher than those in the cases of drag by thermalized phonons and of electron diffusion. The thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) in the case of a ballistic phonon contribution to the phonon drag of electrons should be 50 times that for chaotic phonons and 500 times that in the case of the diffusion process. In that case ZT should be a record (ZT≥2-3)