Current Rectification and Seebeck Coefficient of Serially Coupled Double Quantum Dots

The transport properties of serially coupled quantum dots (SCQDs) embedded in a matrix connected to metallic electrodes are theoretically studied in the linear and nonlinear regimes. The current rectification and negative differential conductance of SCQDs under the Pauli spin blockade condition are attributed to the combination of bias-direction dependent probability weight and off-resonant energy levels yielded by the applied bias across the junctions. We observe the spin-polarization current rectification under the Zeeman effect. The maximum spin-polarization current occurs in the forward bias regime. Such behavior is different from the charge current rectification. Finally, the Seebeck coefficient ($S$)of SCQDs is calculated and analyzed in the cases without and with electron phonon interactions. The application of SCQDs as a temperature detector is discussed on the basis of the nonlinear behavior of $S$ with respect to temperature difference across the junction.