Recent developments in thermoelectric materials

Efficient solid state energy conversion based on the Peltier effect for cooling and the Seebeck effect for power generation calls for materials with high electrical conductivity σ, high Seebeck coefficient S, and low thermal conductivity k. Identifying materials with a high thermoelectric figure of merit Z(= S2σ/k) has proven to be an extremely challenging task. After 30 years of slow progress, thermoelectric materials research experienced a resurgence, inspired by the developments of new concepts and theories to engineer electron and phonon transport in both nanostructures and bulk materials. This review provides a critical summary of some recent developments of new concepts and new materials. In…