Seebeck Coefficient confusion

mcodesmart

The Seebeck coefficient is the differential drop in voltage per unit temperature across a conductor. Goldsmid says that there must be a temp. gradient across a junction for a seebeck coefficeint to be defined. This makes sense if the difference in the fermi level energy between two dissimilar contacts that causes a change in energy of the electron as it jumps from one metal to another.

But I usually hear that the Seebeck coefficient is the property of the metal itself.

Any comments to clear this up would be received.

M Quack

Looks like the Seebeck coefficient is a property of a (single) material, but to measure the Seebeck effect you need two materials, and you effectively measure the difference of their Seebeck coefficients multiplied by the temperature difference.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_effect
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seebeck_coefficient