Fabrication of cooling devices by means of the Thomson effect

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25600128
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: General applied physics
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: MIYAZAKI Yuzuru 東北大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (40261606)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): HAYASHI Kei 東北大学, 大学院工学研究科, 准教授 (70360625)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: トムソン効果

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Experimental conditions to fabricate solids wherein the carrier concentration consecutively and exponentially changes in order to realize cooling devices utilizing the Thomson effect. Partially Fe-substituted manganese silicides known as degenerated semiconductors have been selected. The amount of Fe-substitution and its distribution were controlled by the spark plasma sintering temperature and duration time. A discernible voltage was detected when the temperature gradient and electric current were applied to the samples. However, it was difficult to separate the contributions of the Seebeck, Peltier and Thomson effects. Besides, a novel phenomenon to generate electric power from no temperature difference has been detected. This effect would useful as a new power generation method from waste heat without cooling parts.

Free Research Field

無機固体化学