Research on transport phenomena in a variety of materials has played a decisive role in the development of solidstate physics and has led to important applications of functional materials, e.g. for the conversion and storage of energy or in the fi eld of storage and processing of data. This thesis deals with transport phenomena in nanoscale systems. The Seebeck effect is explored in Bi2Te3 nanowires, the anisotropic magnetothermal resistance effect in Ni nanowires, and the giant magnetothermal resistance effect in Co/Cu multilayers.

In magnetic systems of nano-meter size, the interplay between spin and charge of electrons provides unique transport phenomena. In magnetic superlattices, magnetic and non-magnetic metallic thin films with thickness of the order of one nano-meter are piled-up alternately. Since the discovery of giant magnetoresistance (GMR) in these superlattices in 1988, spin dependent transport phenomena in magnetic nanostructures have received much attention from both academic and technological points of view. Ferromagnetic tunnel junctions made of ferromagnetic metal electrodes and a very thin insulating barrier between them are also of current interest as magnetoresistive devices, where the tunneling current depends on the relative orientation of magnetization (TMR). In addition to magnetic superlattices and magnetic tunnel junctions, magnetic granular systems and magnetic dots have been studied extensively as magnetoresistive systems. Edited by two of the world's leading authorities, Spin Dependent Transport in Magnetic Nanostructures introduces and explains the basic physics and applications of a variety of spin-dependent transport phenomena in magnetic nanostructures with particular emphasis on magnetic multilayers and magnetic tunnel junctions.

Transport Phenomena in Micro- and Nanoscale Functional Materials and Devices offers a pragmatic view on transport phenomena for micro- and nanoscale materials and devices, both as a research tool and as a means to implant new functions in materials. Chapters emphasize transport properties (TP) as a research tool at the micro/nano level and give an experimental view on underlying techniques. The relevance of TP is highlighted through the interplay between a micro/nanocarrier’s characteristics and media characteristics: long/short-range order and disorder excitations, couplings, and in energy conversions. Later sections contain case studies on the role of transport properties in functional nanomaterials. This includes transport in thin films and nanostructures, from nanogranular films, to graphene and 2D semiconductors and spintronics, and from read heads, MRAMs and sensors, to nano-oscillators and energy conversion, from figures of merit, micro-coolers and micro-heaters, to spincaloritronics. Presents a pragmatic description of electrical transport phenomena in micro- and nanoscale materials and devices from an experimental viewpoint Provides an in-depth overview of the experimental techniques available to measure transport phenomena in micro- and nanoscale materials Features case studies to illustrate how each technique works Highlights emerging areas of interest in micro- and nanomaterial transport phenomena, including spintronics

This book introduces readers to state-of-the-art theoretical and simulation techniques for determining transport in complex band structure materials and nanostructured-geometry materials, linking the techniques developed by the electronic transport community to the materials science community. Starting from the semi-classical Boltzmann Transport Equation method for complex band structure materials, then moving on to Monte Carlo and fully quantum mechanical models for nanostructured materials, the book addresses the theory and computational complexities of each method, as well as their advantages and capabilities. Presented in language that is accessible to junior computational scientists, while including enough detail and depth with regards to numerical implementation to tackle modern research problems, it offers a valuable resource for computational scientists and postgraduate researchers whose work involves the theory and simulation of electro-thermal transport in advanced materials.

Thermal transport in nanowires and nanotubes has attached much attention due to their use in various functional devices and their use as a model system for low dimensional transport phenomena. The precise control of the crystal structure, defects, characteristic size, and electronic properties of nanowires has allowed for fundamental studies of phonon and electron transport in a variety of nanoscale systems. The thermal conductivity in nanostructured materials can vary greatly compared to bulk values owing to classical and quantum size effects. In this work, two model systems for investigating fundamental phonon transport were investigated for potential use in thermoelectric and thermal management applications. The thermoelectric properties of twin defect indium arsenide nanowires and the thermal conductivity of polythiophene nanofibers with improved polymer chain crystallinity were measured with a microfabricated measurement device. The effects of twin planes on reducing the mean free path of phonons in indium arsenide and the effects of improved chain alignment in increasing the thermal conductivity in polymer fibers is discussed.

This novel book is the first comprehensive text on dynamical mean-field theory (DMFT), which has emerged over the past two decades as one of the most powerful new developments in many-body physics. Written by one of the key researchers in the field, the volume develops the formalism of many-body Green's functions using the equation of motion approach, which requires an undergraduate solid state physics course and a graduate quantum mechanics course as prerequisites. The DMFT is applied to study transport in multilayered nanostructures, which is likely to be one of the most prominent applications of nanotechnology in the coming years. The text is modern in scope focusing on exact numerical methods rather than the perturbation theory. Formalism is developed first for the bulk and then for the inhomogeneous multilayered systems. The science behind the metal-insulator transition, electronic charge reconstruction, and superconductivity are thoroughly described. The book covers complete derivations and emphasizes how to carry out numerical calculations, including discussions of parallel programing algorithms. Detailed descriptions of the crossover from tunneling to thermally activated transport, of the properties of Josephson junctions with barriers tuned near the metal-insulator transition, and of thermoelectric coolers and power generators are provided as applications of the theory./a