16 Magnetic Fluids for Thermoelectricity
397
Fig. 16.8 Functions Al and S1 (top panel) and bl and S2 (bottom panel) as a function of Langevin
parameter x. Here the particle concentration ϕ is fixed to 0.01. The parameters l and zdd represent
the non-dimensional proportionality coefficient and the dipolar interaction parameter whose values
are close to 0.22 and 4.3 for aqueous ferrofluids as determined experimentally by [35–38]. More
explanation can be found in [24]
16.3.2 Possible Research Directions in Light of Increasing
Thermoelectric Energy Conversion Efficiency
From the application point of view, we have seen that by selecting the right combination of electrolytes, one can tune the Eastman entropy of transfer and the effective
charge number of magnetic nanoparticles to enhance the initial Seebeck coefficient by
15%. Since, for the first approximation, the efficiency of a thermocell is proportional
to the figure of merit (see 16.1) and therefore to the Seebeck coefficient squared, one
397
Fig. 16.8 Functions Al and S1 (top panel) and bl and S2 (bottom panel) as a function of Langevin
parameter x. Here the particle concentration ϕ is fixed to 0.01. The parameters l and zdd represent
the non-dimensional proportionality coefficient and the dipolar interaction parameter whose values
are close to 0.22 and 4.3 for aqueous ferrofluids as determined experimentally by [35–38]. More
explanation can be found in [24]
16.3.2 Possible Research Directions in Light of Increasing
Thermoelectric Energy Conversion Efficiency
From the application point of view, we have seen that by selecting the right combination of electrolytes, one can tune the Eastman entropy of transfer and the effective
charge number of magnetic nanoparticles to enhance the initial Seebeck coefficient by
15%. Since, for the first approximation, the efficiency of a thermocell is proportional
to the figure of merit (see 16.1) and therefore to the Seebeck coefficient squared, one