Electron Thermal Conductivity in Metals

The mean free path of electron is a direct function of the electron collision frequency. Electrons can collide with other electrons, lattice, defects, grain boundaries, and surfaces. 

Assuming that each scattering mechanism is independent, collisional rate is the sum of the individual scattering mechanism  

The collisional frequency can also be dependent on temperature. Electron-defect and electron-boundary scattering are typically independent of temperature. Debye temperature is a characteristic temperature arising in the computation of Debye specific heat. It is defined as 

A and B are constants and and Tf are the electron and lattice temperature, respectively. 

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Smirnov, I.A., and V.I. Tamarchenko, 1977, Electronic Thermal Conductivity in Metals and Semiconductors (Nauka, Leningrad). In Russian. 

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