open access publication

Article, 2023

Determination of thermal diffusivity of thermoelectric materials using a micro four-point probe method

Materials Today Physics, ISSN 2542-5293, Volume 31, Page 100963, 10.1016/j.mtphys.2022.100963

Contributors

Beltrán-Pitarch, Braulio 0000-0002-4596-9582 [1] [2] Guralnik, Benny 0000-0003-3095-3868 [1] [2] Lamba, Neetu 0000-0003-1337-9083 [1] Stilling-Andersen, Andreas R [1] Nørregaard, Lars [2] Hansen, Torben M. [2] Hansen, Ole 0000-0002-6090-8323 [1] Pryds, Nini 0000-0002-5718-7924 [1] Nielsen, Peter F. [2] Petersen, Dirch Hjorth 0000-0002-9309-4186 (Corresponding author) [1]

Affiliations

  1. [1] Technical University of Denmark
    2. [NORA names: DTU Technical University of Denmark; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
  2. [2] CAPRES – a KLA Company, Diplomvej 373B, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
    3. [NORA names: Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD]

Abstract

To develop materials with higher thermoelectric efficiency, a comprehensive characterization of material properties on the relevant spatial scales is pertinent. In this study, we develop a new method based on a micro four-point probe (M4PP) to determine the thermal diffusivity of a bulk material using the phase delay of the second harmonic voltage. The method is demonstrated on two relevant thermoelectric materials i.e. skutterudite and bismuth telluride. Individual measurements on skutterudite and bismuth telluride are characterized by a precision better than 9% and 12%, with mean thermal diffusivities of 1.87 ± 0.17 mm2/s and 1.14 ± 0.13 mm2/s for 100 measurements, respectively. These values are found to be in good agreement with their independent estimates. M4PP electrical characterization of bismuth telluride shows signs of percolation network behavior, thus we believe that the new M4PP methodology applies even to materials whose electrical resistivity is nonuniform and erratic.

Keywords

M4PP, behavior, bismuth, bismuth telluride, characterization of material properties, comprehensive characterization, comprehensive characterization of material properties, delay, determination, diffusion, diffusivities, efficiency, electrical resistivity, estimation, four-point probe, four-point probe method, harmonic voltage, independent estimates, individual measures, material properties, materials, materials i., measurements, method, methodology, micro four-point probe, micro-four-point probe method, network behavior, percolation, phase, phase delay, precision, probe, probe method, properties, relevant spatial scales, resistance, scale, spatial scales, study, telluride, thermal diffusivities, thermal diffusivity, thermoelectric efficiency, thermoelectric materials, values, voltage

Funders

  • Innovation Fund Denmark

Data Provider: Digital Science

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