Device for Measuring the Seebeck Coefficient

Applying a temperature gradient across a conducting material will create an electric potential difference across the corresponding material. This phenomenon is called the Seebeck effect, and a given material’s response is determined by the Seebeck coefficient, which is defined as the negative ratio of the electrical potential to the temperature difference across the material. We are interested in characterizing the Seebeck coefficient of intermetallic compounds, from 10K-300K, and have constructed a device to measure the corresponding physical parameters. Using a sample of nickel 201 alloy, data from device testing showed moderate accuracy within a limited temperature range, with large discrepancies observed below 60K. This error possibly stems from the limited measuring capability of a lab built type-T thermocouple in the low temperature range. Therefore, extending the accuracy and reliability of the device to measure over the 10K-300K range will require modifications to the temperature sensing elements with subsequent tests.