The corrections used in the adiabatic measurement of thermal conductivity using the Peltier effect

Abstract

A direct current flowing in a thermoelectric material produces, under adiabatic conditions, a potential and a thermal gradient. The ratio of these quantities is related to the thermoelectric figure of merit. It is shown that the use of probes inset from the sample ends allows quick and accurate determination of the required quantities. The theory is presented for this situation and tested experimentally at 295°K. The coefficients appearing in the heat leak corrections are determined experimentally.