First-principles theory of ionic thermoelectricity

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Lee, Byeoksong, Kang, Joongoo
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Lee, Byeoksong
Kang, Joongoo
author_facet Lee, Byeoksong
Kang, Joongoo
contents Symmetry plays a crucial role in shaping the theories of fundamental forces. For example, general covariance -- the equivalence of all possible coordinate systems of spacetime -- dictates the law of gravity. Here, we extend this concept to nonequilibrium thermodynamics by developing a theory of ionic thermoelectricity (thermoelectricity without electrons) in electronically gapped ionic conductors. Within the Green-Kubo formalism, we show that energy gauge invariance -- the equivalence of all possible ways of distributing energy among atoms -- primarily determines the expressions for ionic thermoelectric coefficients. This symmetry-dictated theory is generally applicable, regardless of specific ion transport mechanisms, and provides a rigorous conceptual and computational framework for describing ionic thermoelectricity from first principles.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2503_05278
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle First-principles theory of ionic thermoelectricity
Lee, Byeoksong
Kang, Joongoo
Materials Science
Statistical Mechanics
Symmetry plays a crucial role in shaping the theories of fundamental forces. For example, general covariance -- the equivalence of all possible coordinate systems of spacetime -- dictates the law of gravity. Here, we extend this concept to nonequilibrium thermodynamics by developing a theory of ionic thermoelectricity (thermoelectricity without electrons) in electronically gapped ionic conductors. Within the Green-Kubo formalism, we show that energy gauge invariance -- the equivalence of all possible ways of distributing energy among atoms -- primarily determines the expressions for ionic thermoelectric coefficients. This symmetry-dictated theory is generally applicable, regardless of specific ion transport mechanisms, and provides a rigorous conceptual and computational framework for describing ionic thermoelectricity from first principles.
title First-principles theory of ionic thermoelectricity
topic Materials Science
Statistical Mechanics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.05278