  Transverse thermoelectric generation using magnetic materials is essential to
develop active thermal engineering technologies, for which the improvements of
not only the thermoelectric output but also applicability and versatility are
required. In this study, using combinatorial material science and lock-in
thermography technique, we have systematically investigated the transverse
thermoelectric performance of Sm-Co-based alloy films. The high-throughput
material investigation revealed the best Sm-Co-based alloys with the large
anomalous Nernst effect (ANE) as well as the anomalous Ettingshausen effect
(AEE). In addition to ANE/AEE, we discovered unique and superior material
properties in these alloys: the amorphous structure, low thermal conductivity,
and large in-plane coercivity and remanent magnetization. These properties make
it advantageous over conventional materials to realize heat flux sensing
applications based on ANE, as our Sm-Co-based films can generate thermoelectric
output without an external magnetic field. Importantly, the amorphous nature
enables the fabrication of these films on various substrates including flexible
sheets, making the large-scale and low-cost manufacturing easier. Our
demonstration will provide a pathway to develop flexible transverse
thermoelectric devices for smart thermal management.
