Thermoelectric Devices: Cooling and Power Generation

Abstract

Thermoelectricity is the direct conversion of temperature gradient to electric voltage, and vice-versa. There are several potential applications of thermoelectricity, ranging from clean noiseless cooling, to waste-power harvesting in automotives. The performance of thermoelectric devices is still a challenge, and many approaches have been researched to overcome such obstacle. This paper seeks to give an overview of the thermoelectric phenomenon, the bulk semiconductor thermoelectric devices, and the new ways to increase performance of thermoelectric devices using new material structures and going to low-dimensional materials.