Thermoelectric generation based on spin Seebeck effects

Uchida, Kenichi*; Adachi, Hiroto; Kikkawa, Takashi*; Kirihara, Akihiro*; Ishida, Masahiko*; Yorozu, Shinichi*; Maekawa, Sadamichi; Saito, Eiji*

The spin Seebeck effect (SSE) refers to the generation of a spin current as a result of a temperature gradient in magnetic materials including insulators. The SSE is applicable to thermoelectric generation because the thermally generated spin current can be converted into a charge current via spin-orbit interaction in conductive materials adjacent to the magnets. The insulator-based SSE device exhibits unconventional characteristics potentially useful for thermoelectric applications, such as simple structure, device-design exibility, and convenient scaling capability. In this article, we review recent studies on the SSE from the viewpoint of thermoelectric applications.