Exploring Novel Thermoelectric Nanomaterials for Energy Harvesting

Dear Colleagues,

As the global demand for eco-friendly energy solutions intensifies, addressing the environmental challenges associated with conventional energy sources becomes increasingly vital. In response to this fact, thermoelectrics emerges as a pivotal opportunity for the direct conversion of heat into electricity, offering a promising alternative with zero emissions, operational stability, and versatility across diverse applications.

Most commercially available thermoelectric devices continue to rely mainly on Bi₂Te₃-based materials. However, their moderate thermoelectric figure of merit, approximately ZT ≈ 1, coupled with the limited availability of tellurium and the toxicity of their constituent elements, restricts the applicability of these devices. The current challenge to the development of the next generation of commercial devices lies in enhancing the thermoelectric efficiency of sustainable materials. The difficulty arises from the requirement for novel materials that delicately balance thermoelectric characteristics—metals with a combination of high electrical conductivity, high Seebeck coefficient, and low thermal conductivity, typical of non-metallic systems. Consequently, a substantial amount of ongoing research is dedicated to the development of innovative thermoelectric materials.

This Special Issue will concentrate on the latest developments in nanomaterials for thermoelectric applications, both experimental research and theoretical exploration. Possible areas of discussion encompass:

• Novel thermoelectric materials: inorganic, organic, and polymers;
• Composite thermoelectric materials;
• Strategies for doping existing materials to improve thermoelectric performance;
• Investigation into the crystallography of thermoelectric materials;
• Nanostructuration of thermoelectric materials. The impact of size and morphology on thermoelectric performance;
• Synthesis of thermoelectric materials through “Green Chemistry” routes.

The use of machine learning for predicting thermoelectric properties and accelerating material discovery.

Prof. Dr. Jesús Prado-Gonjal
Guest Editor

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• thermoelectric materials
• nanostructured thermoelectrics
• energy conversion
• sustainable thermoelectric materials
• crystal structure
• “Green Chemistry” synthesis
• synthesis–structure–properties relationship, predicting thermoelectric properties