Preparation and characterization of ceramic thin film thermocouples
Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
8-31-2010
Abstract
Indium tin oxide (ITO), alumina doped zinc oxide (ZnO) and NiCrCoAlY/alumina nanocomposites were systematically investigated as thermoelements. These ceramic thermoelements were initially tested relative to a platinum reference electrode and the resulting thermoelectric properties were evaluated. Bi-ceramic junctions comprised of the most stable and responsive ceramic thermoelements, i.e. those thermoelements with the largest and most stable Seebeck coefficients relative to platinum, were fabricated and tested. A bi-ceramic junction based on nitrogen-doped ITO:oxygen-doped ITO exhibited excellent high temperature stability and reproducibility, however, this thermocouple pair had a relatively low Seebeck coefficient (6 μV/°C). Alumina doped ZnO:ITO thermocouples generated a very large electromotive force at low temperatures but lacked high temperature stability. When nitrogen-doped ITO was combined with a NiCoCrAlY/alumina nanocomposite, a very large and stable Seebeck coefficient (375 μV/°C) was realized. Ceramic thermocouples based on several candidate materials were demonstrated at temperatures up to 1200 °C and the potential of using these materials in other thermoelectric devices including those for energy harvesting is discussed. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Thin Solid Films
Volume
518
Issue
21
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Gregory, Otto J., Eike Busch, Gustave C. Fralick, and Ximing Chen. "Preparation and characterization of ceramic thin film thermocouples." Thin Solid Films 518, 21 (2010): 6093-6098. doi: 10.1016/j.tsf.2010.05.102.