High Pressure Seebeck Coefficient Measurements Using Paris-Edinburgh Cell

We have developed a new type of sample cell assembly for the Paris-Edinburgh (PE) type large volume press for simultaneous x-ray diffraction, electrical resistance, and thermal measurements at high pressures. We demonstrate the feasibility of performing in situ measurements of the Seebeck coefficient over a broad range of pressure-temperature conditions by observing the well-known solid-solid and solid-melt transitions of bismuth (Bi) up to 3GPa and 450 K. We observed a gradual increase in the Seebeck coefficient which becomes positive during transition to the Bi - II phase. Also, we have performed successful Seebeck coefficient measurements on the thermoelectric material PbTe. This new capability enables us to directly correlate pressure-induced structural phase transitions to electrical and thermal properties.