Two-stage Seebeck effect in charged colloidal suspensions

TL;DR

This paper investigates the unique two-stage Seebeck effect in charged colloidal suspensions, revealing how ion flows and colloidal particle displacements influence thermoelectric properties in different states.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of the two-stage Seebeck effect in colloidal suspensions, highlighting the roles of ion thermo-diffusion and colloidal particle dynamics.

Findings

Initial state governed by electrolyte ion flows

Steady state influenced by colloidal particle displacement

Distinct two-stage thermopower behavior observed

Abstract

We discuss the peculiarities of the Seebeck effect in stabilized electrolytes containing the colloidal particles. Its unusual feature is the two-stage character, with the linear increase of differential thermopower as the function of colloidal particles concentration $n_{\odot}$ during the first stage and dramatic drop of it at small $n_{\odot}$ during the second one (steady state). We show that the properties of the initial state are governed by the thermo-diffusion flows of the mobile ions of the stabilizing electrolyte medium itself and how the colloidal particles participate in formation of the electric field in the bulk of suspension. In its turn the specifics of the steady state in thermoelectric effect we attribute to considerable displacements of the massive colloidal particles in process of their slow thermal diffusion and break down of their electroneutrality in the vicinity of electrodes