Spin-Caloritronic Batteries

Abstract

The thermoelectric performance of a topological energy converter is analyzed. The H-shaped device is based on a combination of transverse topological effects involving the spin: the inverse spin Hall effect and the spin Nernst effect. The device can convert a temperature drop in one arm into an electric power output in the other arm. Analytical expressions for the output voltage, the figure of merit (ZT), and energy-converting efficiency are reported. We show that the output voltage and the ZT can be tuned by the geometry of the device and the physical properties of the material. Importantly, contrary to a conventional thermoelectric device, here a low electric conductivity may, in fact, enhance the ZT value, thereby opening a path to strategies in optimizing the figure of merit.