Impact of grain size on the Seebeck coefficient of bulk polycrystalline thermoelectric materials

Based on the Boltzmann transport equation of electrons and taking the scattering effect of electrons in the grain boundary as the boundary conditions of electrons transport in the grain, we presented a theoretical model for the Seebeck coefficient of bulk poly- crystalline thermoelectric materials, and applied it to studying the grain size effect on the Seebeck coefficient. Then we discussed the effects of transmissivity, temperature and the mean free path of electrons on the size effect. The results show t...