Sign-reversed anomalous nernst effect with matched Seebeck coefficient in lanthanide-iron alloys for the direct sensing of heat flux

Heat flux sensors based on the anomalous Nernst effect (ANE) have emerged as a promising solution for achieving thin and flexible designs. ANE-based heat flux sensors typically employ thermopile structures composed of two ANE materials with opposite signs, connected in series to enhance sensing perf...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hyun Yu, Sang J. Park, Inho Lee, Ji Hoon Shim, Hyungyu Jin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-08-01
Series:Science and Technology of Advanced Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/14686996.2025.2544649
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849239204562731008
author Hyun Yu
Sang J. Park
Inho Lee
Ji Hoon Shim
Hyungyu Jin
author_facet Hyun Yu
Sang J. Park
Inho Lee
Ji Hoon Shim
Hyungyu Jin
author_sort Hyun Yu
collection DOAJ
description Heat flux sensors based on the anomalous Nernst effect (ANE) have emerged as a promising solution for achieving thin and flexible designs. ANE-based heat flux sensors typically employ thermopile structures composed of two ANE materials with opposite signs, connected in series to enhance sensing performance. However, a mismatch in the Seebeck coefficient between the two ANE materials causes a considerable offset voltage due to the Seebeck effect (SE) under oblique heat flux. This parasitic sensing voltage hinders direct sensing of heat flux in the intended direction. In this study, a sign-reversed ANE with matched Seebeck coefficient is examined in Fe3Ln (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, and Er), enabling a thermopile structure free from the SE-induced offset voltage. Based on density functional theory calculations, Fe₃Ln is selected as a suitable candidate for exhibiting sign reversal of ANE while maintaining the Seebeck coefficient. At 300 K, Fe3Ln (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy, and Ho) exhibits a positive ANE sign, whereas Fe3Er exhibits a negative ANE sign, facilitating the combination of two sign-reversed ANE materials. Among these, Fe3Ho and Fe3Er demonstrate the lowest Seebeck coefficient difference of 0.45 μV K−1, minimizing the offset voltage-induced relative uncertainty, as confirmed by COMSOL simulations – comparable to that of other SE-based heat flux sensors. This study paves the way for the development of ANE-based heat flux sensors by introducing a novel approach to pairing opposite-ANE-sign materials with matched Seebeck coefficient, enabling direct and accurate heat flux sensing via thermopile structures.
format Article
id doaj-art-a6609eec9bf54ba7a440be54c5a2d9f8
institution Kabale University
issn 1468-6996
1878-5514
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Science and Technology of Advanced Materials
spelling doaj-art-a6609eec9bf54ba7a440be54c5a2d9f82025-08-20T04:01:08ZengTaylor & Francis GroupScience and Technology of Advanced Materials1468-69961878-55142025-08-0110.1080/14686996.2025.2544649Sign-reversed anomalous nernst effect with matched Seebeck coefficient in lanthanide-iron alloys for the direct sensing of heat fluxHyun Yu0Sang J. Park1Inho Lee2Ji Hoon Shim3Hyungyu Jin4Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South KoreaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South KoreaDepartment of Chemistry, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South KoreaDepartment of Chemistry, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South KoreaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, South KoreaHeat flux sensors based on the anomalous Nernst effect (ANE) have emerged as a promising solution for achieving thin and flexible designs. ANE-based heat flux sensors typically employ thermopile structures composed of two ANE materials with opposite signs, connected in series to enhance sensing performance. However, a mismatch in the Seebeck coefficient between the two ANE materials causes a considerable offset voltage due to the Seebeck effect (SE) under oblique heat flux. This parasitic sensing voltage hinders direct sensing of heat flux in the intended direction. In this study, a sign-reversed ANE with matched Seebeck coefficient is examined in Fe3Ln (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, and Er), enabling a thermopile structure free from the SE-induced offset voltage. Based on density functional theory calculations, Fe₃Ln is selected as a suitable candidate for exhibiting sign reversal of ANE while maintaining the Seebeck coefficient. At 300 K, Fe3Ln (Ln = Gd, Tb, Dy, and Ho) exhibits a positive ANE sign, whereas Fe3Er exhibits a negative ANE sign, facilitating the combination of two sign-reversed ANE materials. Among these, Fe3Ho and Fe3Er demonstrate the lowest Seebeck coefficient difference of 0.45 μV K−1, minimizing the offset voltage-induced relative uncertainty, as confirmed by COMSOL simulations – comparable to that of other SE-based heat flux sensors. This study paves the way for the development of ANE-based heat flux sensors by introducing a novel approach to pairing opposite-ANE-sign materials with matched Seebeck coefficient, enabling direct and accurate heat flux sensing via thermopile structures.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/14686996.2025.2544649Heat flux sensoranomalous nernst effectanomalous nernst thermopileLanthanide-iron alloyuncertainty of heat flux sensing
spellingShingle Hyun Yu
Sang J. Park
Inho Lee
Ji Hoon Shim
Hyungyu Jin
Sign-reversed anomalous nernst effect with matched Seebeck coefficient in lanthanide-iron alloys for the direct sensing of heat flux
Science and Technology of Advanced Materials
Heat flux sensor
anomalous nernst effect
anomalous nernst thermopile
Lanthanide-iron alloy
uncertainty of heat flux sensing
title Sign-reversed anomalous nernst effect with matched Seebeck coefficient in lanthanide-iron alloys for the direct sensing of heat flux
title_full Sign-reversed anomalous nernst effect with matched Seebeck coefficient in lanthanide-iron alloys for the direct sensing of heat flux
title_fullStr Sign-reversed anomalous nernst effect with matched Seebeck coefficient in lanthanide-iron alloys for the direct sensing of heat flux
title_full_unstemmed Sign-reversed anomalous nernst effect with matched Seebeck coefficient in lanthanide-iron alloys for the direct sensing of heat flux
title_short Sign-reversed anomalous nernst effect with matched Seebeck coefficient in lanthanide-iron alloys for the direct sensing of heat flux
title_sort sign reversed anomalous nernst effect with matched seebeck coefficient in lanthanide iron alloys for the direct sensing of heat flux
topic Heat flux sensor
anomalous nernst effect
anomalous nernst thermopile
Lanthanide-iron alloy
uncertainty of heat flux sensing
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/14686996.2025.2544649
work_keys_str_mv AT hyunyu signreversedanomalousnernsteffectwithmatchedseebeckcoefficientinlanthanideironalloysforthedirectsensingofheatflux
AT sangjpark signreversedanomalousnernsteffectwithmatchedseebeckcoefficientinlanthanideironalloysforthedirectsensingofheatflux
AT inholee signreversedanomalousnernsteffectwithmatchedseebeckcoefficientinlanthanideironalloysforthedirectsensingofheatflux
AT jihoonshim signreversedanomalousnernsteffectwithmatchedseebeckcoefficientinlanthanideironalloysforthedirectsensingofheatflux
AT hyungyujin signreversedanomalousnernsteffectwithmatchedseebeckcoefficientinlanthanideironalloysforthedirectsensingofheatflux