Anomalous Thermoelectric Transport Phenomena Arising from Interband Electron-Phonon Scattering

The Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity are two central quantities to be optimized simultaneously in designing thermoelectric materials, and they are determined by the dynamics of carrier scattering. We uncover a new regime where the presence of multiple electron bands with different effective masses, crossing near the Fermi level, leads to strongly energy-dependent carrier lifetimes due to intrinsic electron-phonon scattering. In this anomalous regime, electrical conductivity decreases with carrier concentration, Seebeck coefficient reverses sign even at high doping, and power factor exhibits an unusual second peak. We explain the origin and magnitude of this effect using a general simplified model as well as first-principles Boltzmann transport calculations in recently discovered half-Heusler alloys. We identify general design rules for using this paradigm to engineer enhanced performance in thermoelectric materials.