Which mechanism limits efficiency when designing a thermoelectric generator using bismuth telluride near room temperature?

💡 Explanation

When designing a thermoelectric generator, increased thermal conductivity within the material at the hot and cold junctions causes heat to bypass the conversion process because the temperature difference is reduced, lessening efficiency. Therefore, increased thermal conductivity limits efficiency, rather than impacting Seebeck coefficient, phonon scattering or radiation, which constitute different mechanisms.

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