Experimental setup for the measurement of the electrical resistivity and thermopower of thin films and bulk materials

Abstract

An experimental setup was developed for the simultaneous measurements of the electrical resistivity and the thermopower in the temperature range going from 77 up to 330K. The system combines accuracy, rapidity, few efforts for the sample mounting, and is fully automated. Pressure contacts are used for contacting the thermocouples to the sample and the sample to the heat sink, making possible the measurement of both thin films and bulk materials with a great flexibility on their geometrical dimensions. Tests of the system have been made on a 99.98% pure Ni bulk sample and on PbTe∕BaF2 thin films for illustration.