Thermoelectricity and Thermodiffusion in Magnetic Nanofluids: Entropic Analysis

• Main Authors: Thomas J. Salez, Sawako Nakamae, Régine Perzynski, Guillaume Mériguet, Andrejs Cebers, Michel Roger
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-05-01
• Series: Entropy
• Subjects: thermoelectricity; thermodiffusion; nanofluids; colloids; seebeck coefficient; thermogalvanic cells
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/20/6/405

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.