Seebeckkoefficienterna

Seebeckkoefficienterna, also known as the Seebeck coefficients or thermoelectric coefficients, are a set of parameters that describe the thermoelectric properties of materials. They are named after the German physicist Thomas Johann Seebeck, who discovered the thermoelectric effect in 1821. The Seebeck effect is the direct conversion of temperature differences to electric voltage and vice versa.

The Seebeck coefficient, denoted by α, is defined as the ratio of the induced thermoelectric voltage to the temperature gradient in a material. It is a measure of the material's ability to convert thermal energy into electrical energy. The Seebeck coefficient is typically expressed in units of microvolts per kelvin (μV/K).

The Seebeck coefficient is a crucial parameter in the design and optimization of thermoelectric devices, such as thermoelectric generators and coolers. It is used to calculate the thermoelectric figure of merit, ZT, which is a measure of the material's overall thermoelectric performance. The figure of merit is given by ZT = α^2 * σ * T / κ, where σ is the electrical conductivity, T is the absolute temperature, and κ is the thermal conductivity.

The Seebeck coefficient is influenced by several factors, including the material's composition, crystal structure, and doping level. It is typically measured using a technique called the differential method, which involves applying a temperature gradient to the material and measuring the resulting thermoelectric voltage.

In summary, Seebeckkoefficienterna are a set of parameters that describe the thermoelectric properties of materials. They are used to calculate the thermoelectric figure of merit, which is a measure of the material's overall thermoelectric performance. The Seebeck coefficient is influenced by several factors and is typically measured using the differential method.