A bird’s-eye view for future ionic thermoelectrics: from ions to products
9 affiliations
- 1Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University , Shanghai 200240 ,
- 2Southern University of Science and Technology Department of Materials Science and Engineering, , Shenzhen 518055 ,
- 3City University of Hong Kong Department of Systems Engineering, , Hong Kong 999077 ,
- 4College of Integrated Circuits, Taiyuan University of Technology , Taiyuan 030024 ,
- 5Key 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 ,
- 6School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane 4000 ,
- 7College of Materials Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics , Nanjing 211106 ,
- 8The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, , Hong Kong 999077 ,
- 9The Chinese University of Hong Kong Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, , Hong Kong 999077 ,
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.
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BibTeX
@article{xu2026birdseye,
title = {{A bird’s-eye view for future ionic thermoelectrics: from ions to products}},
author = {Z. S. Xu and Mao Yu and Qi Li and Chunjing Wang and Yuxiu Yao and Ruixin Wei and Cheng Chi and Cheng Yan and Xiaogang Zhang and Yinghong Xu and Baoling Huang and Dongyan Xu and Yun Shen and Zehao Zhao and Shien‐Ping Feng and Weishu Liu and Hulin Zhang and Shangchao Lin},
journal = {National Science Review},
year = {2026},
month = may,
doi = {10.1093/nsr/nwag283},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwag283},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A bird’s-eye view for future ionic thermoelectrics: from ions to products
AU - Z. S. Xu
AU - Mao Yu
AU - Qi Li
AU - Chunjing Wang
AU - Yuxiu Yao
AU - Ruixin Wei
AU - Cheng Chi
AU - Cheng Yan
AU - Xiaogang Zhang
AU - Yinghong Xu
AU - Baoling Huang
AU - Dongyan Xu
AU - Yun Shen
AU - Zehao Zhao
AU - Shien‐Ping Feng
AU - Weishu Liu
AU - Hulin Zhang
AU - Shangchao Lin
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/05/13
JO - National Science Review
DO - 10.1093/nsr/nwag283
UR - https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwag283
AB - 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.
SN - 2053-714X
SN - 2095-5138
ER -