An artificially anisotropic thermoelectric material with semiconducting and superconducting layers

The thermoelectric parameters of an artificially anisotropic material composed of semiconducting and superconducting layers are considered. The transverse thermoelectric figure of merit and the sensitivity of a sensor responding to small heat fluxes are calculated. The use of high-temperature superconductor layers appreciably changes the optimal geometry of the layered structure (layer inclination angle and thickness ratio) compared with normal conductors. The figure of merit and the sensitivity of a thermoelectric element with superconducting layers exceed the respective parameters of a structure with metallic layers by a factor of 2–3.