Thermoelectric materials are materials that can convert heat into electrical energy, or vice versa, through a process known as the Seebeck effect. When there is a temperature gradient across a thermoelectric material, an electrical potential difference is generated, which can be harnessed to produce electrical power. Thermoelectric materials have several advantages over other methods of power generation, including their ability to convert waste heat into electricity and their lack of moving parts, which makes them more reliable and durable. However, the efficiency of thermoelectric materials is currently low, and ongoing research is focused on improving their performance.
Related publication:
“Tuning of thermoelectric transport properties via the formation of hierarchical structures in Bi-doped Gd2O3/Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 nanocomposites”, International Journal of Energy Research (2021) 1-13.