Epitaxial CrN Thin films with high thermoelectric figure of merit

Abstract

A large enhancement of the thermoelectric figure of merit is reported in single-crystalline films of CrN. The mechanism of the reduction of the lattice thermal conductivity in cubic CrN is similar to the resonant bonding in IV-VI compounds. Therefore, useful ideas from classic thermoelectrics can be applied to tune functionalities in transition metal nitrides and oxides.