Inorganic thermoelectrics for ambient-condition energy conversion: Advances, challenges, and perspectives
- 1School of Chemistry and Physics, ARC Research Hub in Zero-emission Power Generation for Carbon Neutrality, and Centre for Materials Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia
Abstract
Thermoelectric technology enables the direct interconversion between electrical and thermal energy, providing an all-solid-state solution for harvesting low-grade waste heat and enabling precise thermal management. Near-room-temperature thermoelectric materials and devices are particularly attractive for wearable electronics, self-powered Internet-of-Things sensors, and solid-state cooling applications. Here, this review summarizes advances in near-room-temperature thermoelectric materials and devices over the past five years. We first discuss representative material systems, including (Bi, Sb) 2 Te 3 -based alloys, Ag-based superionic conductors, and Mg-based thermoelectric materials such as Mg 3 (Sb, Bi) 2 and MgAgSb, with particular emphasis on their crystal structures, electronic properties, and multiscale carrier and phonon transport mechanisms. The fundamental factors governing the near-room-temperature figure of merit, as well as the intrinsic differences among these structural families, are highlighted. We further summarize key strategies for improving thermoelectric performance, including band engineering, quasi-chemical-equilibrium defect regulation achieved by controlling defect formation and redistribution under near-equilibrium chemical potential conditions, and anisotropic design in layered structures. In addition, the challenges associated with translating intrinsic material performance into practical devices are discussed, focusing on flexible device architectures, electrothermal losses at heterogeneous interfaces, and reliability under coupled mechanical-thermal-electrical operating conditions. Finally, we outline emerging research opportunities and future directions toward scalable, high-performance near-room-temperature thermoelectric systems.
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BibTeX
@article{yang2026inorganic,
title = {{Inorganic thermoelectrics for ambient-condition energy conversion: Advances, challenges, and perspectives}},
author = {Tao Yang and Xiao‐Lei Shi and Nan‐Hai Li and Meng Li and Jennifer MacLeod and Lan Li and Zhi‐Gang Chen},
journal = {Materials Science and Engineering R Reports},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1016/j.mser.2026.101267},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mser.2026.101267},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Inorganic thermoelectrics for ambient-condition energy conversion: Advances, challenges, and perspectives
AU - Tao Yang
AU - Xiao‐Lei Shi
AU - Nan‐Hai Li
AU - Meng Li
AU - Jennifer MacLeod
AU - Lan Li
AU - Zhi‐Gang Chen
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/07
JO - Materials Science and Engineering R Reports
DO - 10.1016/j.mser.2026.101267
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mser.2026.101267
AB - Thermoelectric technology enables the direct interconversion between electrical and thermal energy, providing an all-solid-state solution for harvesting low-grade waste heat and enabling precise thermal management. Near-room-temperature thermoelectric materials and devices are particularly attractive for wearable electronics, self-powered Internet-of-Things sensors, and solid-state cooling applications. Here, this review summarizes advances in near-room-temperature thermoelectric materials and devices over the past five years. We first discuss representative material systems, including (Bi, Sb) 2 Te 3 -based alloys, Ag-based superionic conductors, and Mg-based thermoelectric materials such as Mg 3 (Sb, Bi) 2 and MgAgSb, with particular emphasis on their crystal structures, electronic properties, and multiscale carrier and phonon transport mechanisms. The fundamental factors governing the near-room-temperature figure of merit, as well as the intrinsic differences among these structural families, are highlighted. We further summarize key strategies for improving thermoelectric performance, including band engineering, quasi-chemical-equilibrium defect regulation achieved by controlling defect formation and redistribution under near-equilibrium chemical potential conditions, and anisotropic design in layered structures. In addition, the challenges associated with translating intrinsic material performance into practical devices are discussed, focusing on flexible device architectures, electrothermal losses at heterogeneous interfaces, and reliability under coupled mechanical-thermal-electrical operating conditions. Finally, we outline emerging research opportunities and future directions toward scalable, high-performance near-room-temperature thermoelectric systems.
SN - 0927-796X
SN - 1879-212X
ER -