{
  "abstract": "The ionic thermoelectric (i-TE) technology offers a compelling pathway for harvesting low-grade heat, distinguished by its exceptionally high thermopower and inherent material versatility. However, development in this field is constrained by the complex interplay among electrochemical, thermodynamic, and transport phenomena, which poses significant challenges to the fundamental understanding, accurate performance evaluation, and systematic screening of new materials. This review provides a systematic overview and outlook of the i-TE landscape, bridging fundamental principles with future applications. We begin by deconstructing the core components-electrolytes and electrodes-to elucidate the material design strategies that govern the performance. The discussion then progresses to a multi-scale evaluation of key metrics, from intrinsic i-TE properties to device-level energy conversion and storage capabilities. A central focus is placed on dissecting the persistent chemical and physical challenges, including ion selectivity, transport dynamics, and interfacial engineering. This review further surveys the emerging applications of i-TE, ranging from wearable power generation and active cooling to multimodal sensing and integrated multifunctional systems. Furthermore, we highlight the paradigm-shifting potential of synergistic systems, where coupling thermoelectric effects with electrochemical, photocatalytic, or hydrovoltaic processes unlocks unprecedented functionalities and performance enhancements. Ultimately, this review synthesizes current understanding to propose a strategic roadmap for this field. It outlines the key scientific and engineering perspectives on standardization, scalable manufacturing, and reliability that are essential to translate laboratory innovations into viable commercial technologies.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University , Shanghai 200240 ,",
    "Southern University of Science and Technology Department of Materials Science and Engineering, , Shenzhen 518055 ,",
    "City University of Hong Kong Department of Systems Engineering, , Hong Kong 999077 ,",
    "College of Integrated Circuits, Taiyuan University of Technology , Taiyuan 030024 ,",
    "Key Laboratory of Power Station Energy Transfer Conversion and System of Ministry of Education, School of Energy Power and Mechanical Engineering, North China Electric Power University , Beijing 102206 ,",
    "School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane 4000 ,",
    "College of Materials Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics , Nanjing 211106 ,",
    "The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, , Hong Kong 999077 ,",
    "The Chinese University of Hong Kong Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, , Hong Kong 999077 ,"
  ],
  "article_type": "review",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 18,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Z. S. Xu",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-7431-1061"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Mao Yu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Qi Li",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-8776-8730"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Chunjing Wang",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9962-0423"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Yuxiu Yao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Ruixin Wei"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Cheng Chi",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-7222-2583"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Cheng Yan",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-4909-439X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Xiaogang Zhang",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-4464-672X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Yinghong Xu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Baoling Huang",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-7507-5371"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        8
      ],
      "name": "Dongyan Xu",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0548-8813"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        8
      ],
      "name": "Yun Shen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        8
      ],
      "name": "Zehao Zhao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Shien‐Ping Feng",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3941-1363"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Weishu Liu",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-8643-822X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Hulin Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Shangchao Lin",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-6810-1380"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5p1q5b23q69my.bib",
  "cited_by": 7,
  "doi": "10.1093/nsr/nwag283",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "5p1q5b23q69my",
  "issns": [
    "2053-714X",
    "2095-5138"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwag283",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
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      "2505|Advanced Thermoelectric Materials and Devices"
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  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC13292186",
  "pmid": "42359332",
  "published": "2026-05-13",
  "publisher": "Oxford University Press",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5p1q5b23q69my.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:27:00Z",
      "native_id": "W7161177586",
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      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwag283"
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:2505|Advanced Thermoelectric Materials and Devices",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
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  ],
  "title": "A bird’s-eye view for future ionic thermoelectrics: from ions to products",
  "title_text": "A bird’s-eye view for future ionic thermoelectrics: from ions to products",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-09T13:21:23Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/5p1q5b23q69my",
  "venue": "National Science Review",
  "versions": []
}