Complex thermoelectric materials

Abstract

Thermoelectric materials, which can generate electricity from waste heat or be used as solid-state Peltier coolers, could play an important role in a global sustainable energy solution. Such a development is contingent on identifying materials with higher thermoelectric effi ciency than available at present, which is a challenge owing to the confl icting combination of material traits that are required. Nevertheless, because of modern synthesis and characterization techniques, particularly for nanoscale materials, a new era of complex thermoelectric materials is approaching. We review recent advances in the fi eld, highlighting the strategies used to improve the thermopower and reduce the thermal conductivity.