Optimal Electrical Conductivity for Maximum Thermoelectric Figure of Merit

A frequently employed approach for determination of the maximum thermoelectric figure of merit of a material involves a calculation of its maximum electrical power factor and the corresponding thermal conductivity. In this study, we show that the thermoelectric figure of merit determined using this approach is likely to be limited by the Lorenz factor. The maximum thermoelectric figure of merit is achieved at a different electrical conductivity. A simple way of estimating the optimal electrical conductivity for obtaining the maximum thermoelectric figure of merit is presented.