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Licensed Unlicensed Requires Authentication Published by De Gruyter 2020

1. Thermoelectric materials and applications: a brief review

From the book Thermoelectric Materials

  • Ken Kurosaki , Xun Shi and Yoshiki Takagiwa

Abstract

Attempts to improve the performance of thermoelectric materials called dimensionless figure of merit zT, have been made over the past several decades. Owing to the efforts, recently, materials having a high zT enough to achieve a conversion efficiency of 10% or more, which is a standard criterion for practical use of thermoelectric power generation, has been reported. This chapter reviews recent trends in thermoelectric materials and thermoelectric power generation applications. Regarding the former, we will describe conventional methods for improving zT, and their limitations, and then introduce examples of new materials design guidelines that have the potential to break through those limitations. Regarding the latter, here are some examples of thermoelectric power generation applications that have made remarkable progress in recent years.

© 2020 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Munich/Boston
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