Thin Films for Thermoelectric Applications: Second Volume

Dear Colleagues,

The majority of the energy produced today comes from nonrenewable resources, such as fossil fuels and natural gas, which are known to contribute to environmental problems. To combat these issues, much research is currently devoted to developing alternative methods of energy production that are both renewable and clean. In particular, energy recovery from heat (energy harvesting) can be a good strategy to minimize the negative impact that “dirty” energy has on the environment. This is exactly the purpose of thermoelectricity, also called the Peltier–Seebeck effect: the direct conversion of heat into electricity or electricity into heat through two related mechanisms—the Seebeck effect and the Peltier effect. Therefore, the development of new and more efficient thermoelectric materials is crucial to produce the next generation of energy harvesters based on the thermoelectric effect, which can contribute to decreasing the environmental impact for powering society.

This Special Issue, “Thin Films for Thermoelectric Applications:  Second Volume”, aims to cover original research and critical review articles on recent aspects of novel thermoelectric materials processed as thin films. In particular, we invite papers that discuss recent advances in thermoelectric materials and their processing as thin films, characterization techniques relating structure and properties, the construction of devices based on thin thermoelectric films, theory relating to the thermoelectricity of thin films, and in general, all aspects of the applications of thermoelectric thin films.

Although other interesting related topics not mentioned in the above list are also welcome, intended submissions should generally align with thin films for thermoelectric applications.

The topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• The synthesis of novel thermoelectric materials;
• Deposition techniques for thin films of thermoelectric materials;
• Characterization methods of the thermoelectric properties of thin films;
• The structural characterization of thermoelectric thin films;
• Quantum confinement, phonon drag and 2D materials;
• The physics and chemistry of novel thermoelectric materials for thin films;
• The theory and modeling of thermoelectric thin films;
• Thermoelectric thin film sensors and applications;
• Thermoelectric nanodevices.

Prof. Dr. Clara M Gómez
Dr. Mario Culebras Rubio
Guest Editors

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