11 - Nanostructured thermoelectric materials

Abstract

The primary limitation for the use of thermoelectric materials in the practical applications of power generation and to replace conventional energy-providing sources is that their efficiency is not quite significant. Enhancement of thermoelectric efficiency is hindered by the complicated relationship between physical properties like thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, and Seebeck coefficient. These physical properties should be decoupled to enhance the thermoelectric efficiency of the materials; fortunately, nanostructuring of thermoelectric materials is suggested as a promising strategy to decouple these properties. The primary focus of this chapter is to highlight the effect of low-dimensionality and various nanostructures on the efficiency of thermoelectric materials. The effect of nanocomposite formation on the thermoelectric efficiency of binary chalcogenides, graphene and carbon nanotube-based nanocomposites, lead chalcogenides, and SiGe alloys are discussed in detail. We have also included nanowires, nanocages, and quasi-one-dimensional organic thermoelectric materials in this chapter.