Giant thermoelectric power factor in ultrathin FeSe superconductor : Professor Yoshihiro Iwasa, Quantum-Phase Electronics Center (QPEC) , Professor Ryotaro Arita, Department of Applied Physics, and other researchers.

Authors
Sunao Shimizu, Junichi Shiogai, Nayuta Takemori, Shiro Sakai, Hiroaki Ikeda, Ryotaro Arita, Tsutomu Nojima, Atsushi Tsukazaki, and Yoshihiro Iwasa 

Abstract
The thermoelectric effect is attracting a renewed interest as a concept for energy harvesting technologies. Nanomaterials have been considered a key to realize efficient thermoelectric conversions owing to the low dimensional charge and phonon transports. In this regard, recently emerging two-dimensional materials could be promising candidates with novel thermoelectric functionalities. Here we report that FeSe ultrathin films, a high-T_c superconductor (T_c; superconducting transition temperature), exhibit superior thermoelectric responses. With decreasing thickness d, the electrical conductivity increases accompanying the emergence of high-T_csuperconductivity; unexpectedly, the Seebeck coefficient α shows a concomitant increase as a result of the appearance of two-dimensional natures. When d is reduced down to ~1 nm, the thermoelectric power factor at 50 K and room temperature reach unprecedented values as high as 13,000 and 260 μW cm⁻¹ K⁻², respectively. The large thermoelectric effect in high T_c superconductors indicates the high potential of two-dimensional layered materials towards multi-functionalization.

Nature Communications : https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-08784-z