Thermoelectric Properties Measurement System

热电材料作为绿色能源范例的关键要素被深入研究；它们可以利用太阳能或废热发电，也可以用于固态制冷，热电材料的研究预计将对加拿大未来的经济活动作出重大贡献。该领域的许多研究工作都致力于提高热电优值zT，这需要同时测量导热系数、塞贝克系数和导电性。因此，测量zT作为温度的函数是热电学研究中不可缺少的一步。我们建议获得一个热电特性测量系统，并将此功能添加到现有的量子设计物理特性测量系统（PPMS）中。该系统将使我们能够在广泛的温度范围内（2K-400K）获得优异的热电图，并支持开发低温和纳米纹理热电材料的研究活动。该系统将成为支持NSERC CREATE项目的主要实验设施之一，该项目名为“控制损失的热量：热电学的培训和研究”。

Thermoelectric materials are intensively studied as a key element of the green energy paradigm; they can generate electricity from solar or waste heat, and can also be used for solid-state refrigeration, and thermoelectric materials research is expected to contribute significantly to the future economic activity of Canada. Many of the research efforts in the field are devoted to improving the thermoelectric figure of merit, zT, which requires simultaneous measurements of thermal conductivity, the Seebeck coefficient, and electrical conductivity. Therefore, measuring zT as a function of temperature is an indispensable step in thermoelectrics research. We propose to acquire a thermoelectric properties measurement system, and add this capability to the existing Quantum Design Physical Properties Measurement System (PPMS). This system will allow us to obtain the thermoelectric figure of merit over a wide range of temperatures (2K-400K), and support research activities in developing low-temperature and nano-textured thermoelectric materials. This system will be one of the main experimental facilities supporting the NSERC CREATE program entitled "Taming the Lost Heat: Training and Research in Thermoelectrics."