Thermal and Electrical Systems Laboratory (Universitat Jaume I)

Advanced characterisation methods for thermoelectric materials, devices and systems

We work on the application and development of transient and frequency-resolved methods (mainly impedance spectroscopy and current-voltage curves) to the characterisation of thermoelectric materials, devices and systems. The use of these methods allows the determination of relevant properties of thermoelectric materials, such as the electrical conductivity σ, the Seebeck coefficient S, the thermal conductivity λ, and the dimensionless figure-of-merit ZT.

In thermoelectric devices, impedance spectroscopy measurements can provide the ohmic resistance (internal resistance), the average materials properties of the thermoelements (σ, S, λ), the module dimensionless figure-of-merit, and the thermal contact resistances at the thermoelement/metallic contact and metallic contact/ceramic junctions. When thermoelectric devices are integrated into systems, impedance measurements can also provide the thermal contact resistance between the thermoelectric device and the heat exchangers.

These are some relevant publications of this research line:

Improving thermoelectric efficiency through electrochemical strategies

We work on the development of novel TE devices that combine a nanostructured and porous thermoelectric material with an electrolyte (typically a liquid with a salt dissolved). The use of electrolytes introduce electrochemical processes that tactically modify the thermoelectric properties and significant thermoelectric performance improvements can be achieved.

Some relevant publications of this research line are:

  • N. Vicente, B. Beltrán-Pitarch, I. Mora-Seró and J. García-Cañadas. Mechanisms Involved in the Large Power Factor Improvement Identified in Sb-doped SnO2 by the Presence of Ionic Liquids. International Conference on Thermoelectrics 2019, Gyeongju (South Korea), July 2019.
  • L. Márquez-García, B. Beltrán-Pitarch, D. Powell, G. Min and J. García-Cañadas. Large power factor improvement in a novel solid-liquid thermoelectric hybrid device. ACS Applied Energy Materials 1, 254-259 (2018).
  • S. Castro-Ruiz, L. Márquez-García, M. Solis-de la Fuente, B. Beltrán-Pitarch, A. Mota-Babiloni, F. Vidan, P. Íñigo-Rabinal, G. Guisado-Barrios, J. García-Cañadas. Power Factor Improvement in a Solid-Liquid Thermoelectric System Formed by Sb:SnO2 in Contact with a Chromium Complex Solution. Sustainable Energy & Fuels (2023).

Development of new applications of thermoelectric devices

From the experienced gained in our research in thermoelectrics, we have realised that a thermoelectric device is an excellent system to sense any thermal processes taking place in its surroundings. Taking advantage of this feature, we work on developing new applications where this characteristic can be exploited, such as the measurement of the thermal properties of solids an liquids, the determination of the convection heat transfer coefficient, and the measurement of the vacuum pressure.

Some relevant publications of this research line are:

Thermo-electrochemical devices or ionic thermoelectrics.

We work on the development of thermo-electrochemical cells (also known as thermocells or thermogalvanic cells), specially studying different electrodes and device configurations. Also, we apply the use of impedance spectroscopy to these sytems and to ionic thermoelectric capacitors.

Some relevant publications of this research line are:

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