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Developments in semiconductor thermoelectric materials

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Abstract

A surge in interest in developing alternative renewable energy technologies has been observed in recent years. In particular, thermoelectrics has drawn attention because thermoelectric effects enable direct conversion between thermal and electrical energy, and provide power generation and refrigeration alternatives. During the past decade, the performance of thermoelectric materials has been considerably improved; however, many challenges continue to exist. Developing thermoelectric materials with superior performance means tailoring interconnected thermoelectric physical parameters-electrical conductivities, Seebeck coefficients, and thermal conductivities for a crystalline system. The objectives of this paper are to introduce the recent developments in semiconductor thermoelectric materials, and briefly summarize the applications of such materials.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Key Laboratory of Cryogenics, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China

    Laifeng Li, Zhen Chen, Min Zhou & Rongjin Huang

  2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Zhen Chen

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  1. Laifeng Li
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Correspondence to Laifeng Li.

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Prof. Laifeng LI, Director of the Center for Cryogenic Materials and Engineering, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (TIPC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) since 1998, holds a PhD from the Institute of Physics, CAS in 1996, and postdoctoral in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1998, and becomes a full professor in the Cryogenic Laboratory of CAS in the same year. He has authored/co-authored over 100 major research papers in the journals such as Adv. Mater., Appl. Phys. Lett., J. Appl. Phys., and Chem. of Materials in the areas of thermo electrical materials, negative expansion materials, insulation polymer, toughening ceramics and applied superconductivity, 2 books and obtained 12 patents. He is the Editor of the Chinese Journal of Materials Research and the Journal of Cryogenics.

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Li, L., Chen, Z., Zhou, M. et al. Developments in semiconductor thermoelectric materials. Front. Energy 5, 125–136 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-011-0150-1

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