Anomalous Ettingshausen effect in iron–carbon alloys

Abstract

We have investigated the anomalous Ettingshausen effect (AEE) in iron–carbon alloys, i.e., cast irons and steel, using the lock-in thermography. All the alloys exhibit the clear AEE-induced temperature modulation, and their anomalous Ettingshausen coefficient is an order of magnitude greater than that of the pure iron at room temperature. The dimensionless figure of merit for AEE in the ductile cast iron is 55 times greater than that in the pure iron owing to the significant increase in the anomalous Ettingshausen coefficient. Our result reveals a potential of iron–carbon alloys as transverse thermoelectric materials, although the composition and microstructures optimizations are necessary.