Harmonic Regime Analysis and Inverse Method Applied to The Simultaneous Determination of Thermoelectric Properties

An AC harmonic analysis of thermoelectric phenomena is presented in this work. It deals with the modification of the suspended sample configuration used in the Harman method, by using pure sine wave electrical excitation. Heat transfer in the sample and its interfaces are described using the thermal quadrupoles method. The fundamental harmonic response in the sample voltage is analytically calculated. The model sensitivity coefficients show that all the properties concerned in the figure of merit i.e. the Seebeck coefficient, the thermal conductivity and the electric resistivity can be simultaneously estimated. This is a novel skill in thermoelectrics properties characterization. Main aspects for an optimal experimental design in an inverse problem point of view are given. The advantages of the harmonic regime upon the classical DC regime are studied in detail