Relation between Electronic Structure and Thermoelectric Properties of Heusler-Type Ru₂VAl Compounds

Abstract

We investigated Heusler-type Ru2VAl, a candidate material for next-generation thermoelectric conversion, by first-principle calculations of its thermoelectric conversion properties and direct experimental observations of its electronic structures, employing photoemission and infrared spectroscopy. Our results show that Ru2VAl has a wider pseudogap near the Fermi level compared to Fe2VAl. Accordingly, a higher thermoelectric conversion performance can be expected in Ru2VAl at higher temperatures.

Keywords

• Heusler-type Ru₂VAl
• first-principle calculation
• photoemission spectroscopy
• infra-red spectroscopy
• thermoelectric properties
• electronic structure