Spin effects in thermoelectric phenomena in SiC nanoribbons

Abstract

Using ab initio methods we calculate the thermoelectric and spin thermoelectric properties of zigzag SiC nanoribbons, asymmetrically terminated with hydrogen. Such nanoribbons display a ferromagnetic ground state, with edge magnetic moments oriented in parallel. Both thermopower and spin thermopower have been determined as a function of chemical potential and temperature. To find the thermoelectric efficiency, the total heat conductance has been calculated, i.e. the electronic and phonon contributions. Numerical results for SiC nanoribbons are compared with those for graphene and silicene ones.