Bipolar transverse thermopower and low thermal conductivity for an anomalous Nernst-type heat flux sensor in GdCo alloys

A Heat Flux Sensor (HFS) facilitates the visualization of heat flow, unlike a temperature sensor, and is anticipated to be a key technology in managing waste heat. Recently, an HFS utilizing the Anomalous Nernst Effect (ANE) has been proposed garnering significant interest in enhancing the transverse thermopower. However, ideal materials for HFS not only require a large transverse thermopower but also meet several criteria including low thermal conductivity and a bipolar nature of the transverse thermopower, especially a negative transverse thermopower. In this study, we have investigated ANE in amorphous ferrimagnetic GdCo alloys, revealing their numerous advantages as HFS materials. These include a large bipolar transverse thermopower, extremely low thermal conductivity, large negative sensitivity, versatility for deposition on various substrates, and a small longitudinal thermopower. These qualities position GdCo films as promising candidates for the advancement of HFS technology.