Abstract
Energy harvesting with thermoelectric materials has been investigated with increasing attention over recent decades. However, the vast number of various material classes makes it difficult to maintain an overview of the best candidates. Thus, we revitalize Ioffe plots as a useful tool for making the thermoelectric properties of a material obvious and easily comparable. These plots enable us to consider not only the efficiency of the material by the figure of merit zT but also the power factor and entropy conductivity as separate parameters. This is especially important for high-temperature applications, where a critical look at the impact of the power factor and thermal conductivity is mandatory. Thus, this review focuses on material classes for high-temperature applications and emphasizes the best candidates within the material classes of oxides, oxyselenides, Zintl phases, half-Heusler compounds, and SiGe alloys. An overall comparison between these material classes with respect to either a high efficiency or a high power output is discussed.
Highlights
At a time when raw fossil materials are becoming scarcer and the demand for regenerative energies is relentlessly rising, the use of energy harvesting systems has gained an ever-increasing interest [1].Regardless of whether it is from industrial processes, mechanical processes, or the transportation sector, the amount of wasted energy currently remains enormous
Different kinds of bulk thermoelectric materials have been compared with respect to their high-temperature performance and stability
Within the respective thermoelectric material classes, much research has been conducted within recent decades, very few works have compared these classes
Summary
At a time when raw fossil materials are becoming scarcer and the demand for regenerative energies is relentlessly rising, the use of energy harvesting systems has gained an ever-increasing interest [1] Regardless of whether it is from industrial processes, mechanical processes, or the transportation sector, the amount of wasted energy currently remains enormous. In 2017, the estimated energy consumption in the U.S was shown to be approximately 67% wasted energy [2] At this point, energy harvesting comes into play, converting even small amounts of wasted energy in the form of heat, light, vibration, or movement into usable energy [3]. The purpose of this review is to convey descriptive comparisons, which is realized by two different types of Ioffe plots These plots allow a direct comparison of the thermoelectric properties of different materials, which is vital for prospective research [14]
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