A matrix formulation to introduce the concept of effective thermoelectric tensors in idealized superlattices

An overall matrix formalism is shaped to define the concept of effective thermoelectric tensors in idealized free-standing superlattices (SL). Starting from the relations accounting for the thermoelectric effects in anisotropic materials, we include the relevant continuity conditions to formulate a global matrix framework describing the thermoelectric effects in an idealized SL. Effective electrical conductivity and thermal power of such SL are formulated as only two general matrix relationships. These versatile results can be applied to idealized free standing SL with layers of all the classes of any symmetry (triclinic, monoclinic, orthorhombic, hexagonal, tetragonal and cubic) in the low-frequency model.