Interdependent optimization strategies for material, module, and system designs in thermoelectric devices

Device, vol. 3, pp. 100752

Abstract

Thermoelectric devices, which enable the direct conversion between thermal and electrical energy, have emerged as promising solutions for waste heat recovery and thermal management across various fields. Current studies primarily focus on performance improvements at a single level, such as developing advanced materials, new module configurations, or efficient heat-exchange structures. Thermoelectric devices for broader applications require consideration across these levels. This review discusses issues related to performance degradation as thermoelectrics progresses from the material to the device level and examines current optimization strategies in material, module, and system designs. We propose a set of optimization strategies across different levels, emphasizing their interdependence to achieve efficient and practical thermoelectric devices.

Authors 8

1. Ding Luo

   Chang'an University · Tsinghua University

   Affiliation as printed

   Key Laboratory for Thermal Science and Power Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

   Shaanxi Key Laboratory of New Transportation Energy and Automotive Energy Saving, Key Laboratory for Special Area Highway Engineering of Ministry of Education, Chang’an University, Xi’an, China

2. Hao Chen corresponding

   Chang'an University

   Affiliation as printed

   Shaanxi Key Laboratory of New Transportation Energy and Automotive Energy Saving, Key Laboratory for Special Area Highway Engineering of Ministry of Education, Chang’an University, Xi’an, China

3. Wei‐Hsin Chen

   Tunghai University · National Chin-Yi University of Technology · National Cheng Kung University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan

   Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taichung 411, Taiwan

   Research Center for Smart Sustainable Circular Economy, Tunghai University, Taichung 407, Taiwan

4. Xudong Zhang

   Tsinghua University

   Affiliation as printed

   Key Laboratory for Thermal Science and Power Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

5. Limin Geng

   Chang'an University

   Affiliation as printed

   Shaanxi Key Laboratory of New Transportation Energy and Automotive Energy Saving, Key Laboratory for Special Area Highway Engineering of Ministry of Education, Chang’an University, Xi’an, China

6. Wei Jiang corresponding

   Chang'an University

   Affiliation as printed

   Shaanxi Key Laboratory of New Transportation Energy and Automotive Energy Saving, Key Laboratory for Special Area Highway Engineering of Ministry of Education, Chang’an University, Xi’an, China

7. Yuan Yu corresponding Aachen Institute of Physics (IA)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Physics (IA), RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany

8. Bing Cao corresponding

   Tsinghua University

   Affiliation as printed

   Key Laboratory for Thermal Science and Power Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China