Topology in thermoelectric materials

Abstract

The combination of thermoelectricity and electronic band topology has emerged as a frontier area of research, promising to provide new mechanisms for enhancing thermoelectric performance in various material systems. Topological materials, including topological insulators and Weyl/Dirac/nodal line topological semimetals, exhibit unique electronic properties such as band inversion, protected surface states, linear band dispersion, and nontrivial Berry curvature, all of which significantly influence thermoelectric transport phenomena. These features contribute to enhanced thermoelectric performance through mechanisms such as band inversion-driven warping and the anomalous Nernst effect. This article summarizes the current landscape of topological materials in thermoelectrics, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize energy technologies and outlining future research directions aimed at discovering new candidates.