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Updated: Nov 27, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advancing Energy Solutions Using Nanocomposites as Processed Thermoelectric Materials
Published on: May 17, 2024
Thermoelectricity and Thermodiffusion in Magnetic Nanofluids: Entropic Analysis
Thomas J Salez1, Sawako Nakamae1, Régine Perzynski2
1Service de Physique de l'État Condensé, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91191 Gif sur Yvette CEDEX, France.
Abstract:
An analytical model describing the thermoelectric potential production in magnetic nanofluids (dispersions of magnetic and charged colloidal particles in liquid media) is presented. The two major entropy sources, the thermogalvanic and thermodiffusion processes are considered. The thermodiffusion term is described in terms of three physical parameters; the diffusion coefficient, the Eastman entropy of transfer and the electrophoretic charge number of colloidal particles, which all depend on the particle concentration and the applied magnetic field strength and direction. The results are combined with well-known formulation of thermoelectric potential in thermogalvanic cells and compared to the recent observation of Seebeck coefficient enhancement/diminution in magnetic nanofluids in polar media.
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