Thermoelectric materials

Thermoelectric materials ^[1]^[2] show the thermoelectric effect in a strong or convenient form.

The thermoelectric effect refers to phenomena by which either a temperature difference creates an electric potential or an electric current creates a temperature difference. These phenomena are known more specifically as the Seebeck effect (creating a voltage from temperature difference), Peltier effect (driving heat flow with an electric current), and Thomson effect (reversible heating or cooling within a conductor when there is both an electric current and a temperature gradient). While all materials have a nonzero thermoelectric effect, in most materials it is too small to be useful. However, low-cost materials that have a sufficiently strong thermoelectric effect (and other required properties) are also considered for applications including power generation and refrigeration. The most commonly used thermoelectric material is based on bismuth telluride (Bi
₂Te
₃).

Thermoelectric materials are used in thermoelectric systems for cooling or heating in niche applications, and are being studied as a way to regenerate electricity from waste heat.^[3] Research in the field is still driven by materials development, primarily in optimizing transport and thermoelectric properties.^[4]

^ Goldsmid, H. Julian (2016). Introduction to Thermoelectricity. Springer Series in Materials Science. Vol. 121. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg. Bibcode:2016inh..book.....G. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-49256-7. ISBN 978-3-662-49255-0.
^ Snyder, G.J.; Toberer, E.S. (2008). "Complex Thermoelectric Materials". Nature Materials. 7 (2): 105–114. Bibcode:2008NatMa...7..105S. doi:10.1038/nmat2090. PMID 18219332.
^ Wang, H; Pei, Y; LaLonde, AD; Snyder, GJ (2012). "Weak electron-phonon coupling contributing to high thermoelectric performance in n-type PbSe". Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 109 (25): 9705–9. Bibcode:2012PNAS..109.9705W. doi:10.1073/pnas.1111419109. PMC 3382475. PMID 22615358.
^ Nolas, G.S.; Sharp, J.; Goldsmid, H.J. (2001). Thermoelectrics: basic principles and new materials developments. Springer Series in Materials Science. Vol. 45. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer- Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-04569-5. ISBN 3-540-41245-X.

[:1-1] Goldsmid, H. Julian (2016). Introduction to Thermoelectricity. Springer Series in Materials Science. Vol. 121. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg. Bibcode:2016inh..book.....G. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-49256-7. ISBN 978-3-662-49255-0.

[2] Snyder, G.J.; Toberer, E.S. (2008). "Complex Thermoelectric Materials". Nature Materials. 7 (2): 105–114. Bibcode:2008NatMa...7..105S. doi:10.1038/nmat2090. PMID 18219332.

[3] Wang, H; Pei, Y; LaLonde, AD; Snyder, GJ (2012). "Weak electron-phonon coupling contributing to high thermoelectric performance in n-type PbSe". Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 109 (25): 9705–9. Bibcode:2012PNAS..109.9705W. doi:10.1073/pnas.1111419109. PMC 3382475. PMID 22615358.

[4] Nolas, G.S.; Sharp, J.; Goldsmid, H.J. (2001). Thermoelectrics: basic principles and new materials developments. Springer Series in Materials Science. Vol. 45. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer- Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-04569-5. ISBN 3-540-41245-X.

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