Thermoelectric multilayer thin films used in nanoscale energy conversion have been receiving increasing attention in both academic research and industrial applications. Thermal transport across multilayer interface plays a key role in improving thermoelectric conversion efficiency. In this study, the cross-plane thermal conductivities of nano-constructed Sb2Te3/(Cu, Ag, Au, Pt) thermoelectric multilayer thin films have been measured using time-domain thermoreflectance method. The interface morphology features of multilayer thin film samples were characterized by using scanning and transmission electron microscopes. The effects of interface microstructure on the cross-plane thermal conductivities of the multilayer thin films have been extensively examined and the thermal transfer mechanism has been explored. The results indicated that electron–phonon coupling occurred at the semiconductor/metal interface that strongly affected the cross-plane thermal conductivity. By appropriately optimizing the period thickness of the metal layer, the cross-plane thermal conductivity can be effectively reduced, thereby improving the thermoelectric conversion efficiency. This work presents both experimental and theoretical understanding of the thermal transport properties of Sb2Te3/metal multilayer thin film junctions with important implications for exploring a novel approach to improving the thermoelectric conversion efficiency.

中文翻译：

---

纳米结构Sb2Te3 /（Cu，Ag，Au，Pt）热电多层薄膜横断面热导率的对比实验研究。

用于纳米级能量转换的热电多层薄膜在学术研究和工业应用中都受到越来越多的关注。跨多层界面的热传输在提高热电转换效率方面起着关键作用。在这项研究中，使用时域热反射法测量了纳米结构的Sb2Te3 /（Cu，Ag，Au，Pt）热电多层薄膜的横断面热导率。利用扫描电子显微镜和透射电子显微镜对多层薄膜样品的界面形貌特征进行了表征。界面微观结构对多层薄膜的横断面热导率的影响已得到广泛研究，并探讨了热传递机理。结果表明，电子-声子耦合发生在半导体/金属界面上，这极大地影响了横平面的热导率。通过适当地优化金属层的周期厚度，可以有效地减小横断面的热导率，从而提高热电转换效率。这项工作提供了Sb2Te3 /金属多层薄膜结的热传输特性的实验和理论理解，对探索提高热电转换效率的新方法具有重要意义。可以有效降低跨平面的导热系数，从而提高热电转换效率。这项工作提供了Sb2Te3 /金属多层薄膜结的热传输特性的实验和理论理解，对探索提高热电转换效率的新方法具有重要意义。可以有效降低跨平面的导热系数，从而提高热电转换效率。这项工作提供了Sb2Te3 /金属多层薄膜结的热传输特性的实验和理论理解，对探索提高热电转换效率的新方法具有重要意义。