Recent advancements in thermoelectric materials have focused on enhancing the dimensionless figure of merit (ZT) through nanostructuring and band engineering. For instance, p-type SnSe crystals have achieved a record ZT of 2.6 at 923 K, attributed to their ultralow lattice thermal conductivity of 0.23 W/m·K and optimized carrier concentration. Similarly, n-type Mg3Sb2-based materials have demonstrated ZT values exceeding 1.8 at 700 K, driven by multi-valley band convergence and reduced grain boundary scattering. These breakthroughs highlight the potential of high-performance thermoelectrics in converting industrial waste heat into usable electricity with efficiencies surpassing 15%.
The integration of machine learning and high-throughput computational screening has accelerated the discovery of novel thermoelectric compositions. A recent study identified over 50 promising candidates from a dataset of 30,000 materials, with Bi2Te3/Sb2Te3 superlattices achieving a ZT of 2.4 at 300 K due to quantum confinement effects. Additionally, machine learning models predicted a ZT of 3.1 for Cu2Se-based materials at 800 K, validated experimentally with a measured value of 3.0. This data-driven approach has reduced the development timeline from decades to months, enabling rapid optimization of material properties for specific temperature ranges.
Flexible and wearable thermoelectric devices are emerging as key solutions for low-grade waste heat recovery from human bodies and IoT sensors. Recent innovations include organic-inorganic hybrids like PEDOT:PSS/Bi2Te3 composites, which exhibit a ZT of 0.75 at room temperature and maintain performance after 10,000 bending cycles. Moreover, graphene-based flexible films have achieved a power density of 12 µW/cm² at ΔT = 10 K, sufficient to power small electronic devices. These advancements open new avenues for energy harvesting in portable electronics and healthcare monitoring systems.
Scalable manufacturing techniques such as spark plasma sintering (SPS) and additive manufacturing are revolutionizing the production of thermoelectric modules. SPS-processed PbTe-SrTe alloys have demonstrated ZT values above 2.0 across a broad temperature range (300-900 K), with module efficiencies reaching 12%. Meanwhile, 3D-printed Bi2Te3-based devices have achieved a power output of 5 W/cm² at ΔT = 100 K, comparable to traditional fabrication methods but with significantly reduced material waste and cost. These scalable approaches are critical for commercializing thermoelectric technology in large-scale industrial applications.
Environmental sustainability is now a key consideration in thermoelectric material development. Lead-free alternatives like GeTe-based alloys have achieved ZT values up to 2.4 at 773 K, rivaling traditional PbTe systems while eliminating toxic elements. Additionally, recyclable organic thermoelectrics such as PANI-CNT composites exhibit ZT values around 0.5 at room temperature and can be reprocessed multiple times without performance degradation. These eco-friendly materials align with global efforts to reduce electronic waste and promote circular economy principles in energy technologies.
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