High-throughput screening for combinatorial thin-film library of thermoelectric materials

A high-throughput method has been developed to evaluate the Seebeck coefficient and electrical resistivity of combinatorial thin-film libraries of thermoelectric materials from room temperature to 673 K. Thin-film samples several millimeters in size were deposited on an integrated Al₂O ₃ substrate with embedded lead wires and local heaters for measurement of the thermopower under a controlled temperature gradient. An infrared camera was used for real-time observation of the temperature difference ΔT between two electrical contacts on the sample to obtain the Seebeck coefficient. The Seebeck coefficient and electrical resistivity of constantan thin films were shown to be almost identical to standard data for bulk constantan. High-throughput screening was demonstrated for a thermoelectric Mg-Si-Ge combinatorial library.