Electrical conductivity measurements on disk-shaped samples

We have developed a sample holder design that allows for electrical conductivity measurements on a disk-shaped sample. The sample holder design is based on and compatible with popular measurement systems that are currently restricted to bar-shaped samples. The geometrical correction factors which account for the adjusted measurement configuration were calculated using finite element modeling for a broad range of sample and measurement geometries. We also show that the modeling results can be approximated by a simple analytical fit function with excellent accuracy. The proposed sample holder design is compatible with a concurrent measurement of the Seebeck coefficient. The chosen sample geometry is furthermore compatible with a thermal conductivity measurement using a laser flash apparatus. A complete thermoelectric characterization without cutting the sample is thus possible.