Presently, there is an intense race throughout the world to develop good enough thermoelectric materials which can be used in wide scale applications. This book focuses comprehensively on very recent up-to-date breakthroughs in thermoelectrics utilizing nanomaterials and methods based in nanoscience. Importantly, it provides the readers with methodology and concepts utilizing atomic scale and nanoscale materials design (such as superlattice structuring, atomic network structuring and properties control, electron correlation design, low dimensionality, nanostructuring, etc.). Furthermore, also indicates the applications of thermoelectrics expected for the large emerging energy market. This book has a wide appeal and application value for anyone being interested in state-of-the-art thermoelectrics and/or actual viable applications in nanotechnology.

With the increaseing global demand for energy, we are facing a huge challenge of energy sustainability. Renewable energy has attracted an immense amount of interest with regard to solving the sustainbility issue. Among the various renewable energy sources, solar heat and waste heat energy has significant advantages due to its availability. Thermoelectric nanomaterials play an indispensable role in heat-to-electricity energy conversion. A high energy conversion efficiency is critical for practical applications of thermoelectric energy conversion systems, and understanding the fundamentals of energy conversion mechanisms is essential. This book details thermoelectric energy conversion nanomaterials and the related manufacturing processes. It also introduces the latest research progress in thermoelectric energy conversion nanomaterials. It is a great reference for readers from both academia and industry.

Edited by the initiators of a priority research program funded by the German Science Foundation and written by an international team of key players, this is the first book to provide an overview of nanostructured thermoelectric materials -- putting the new developments into perspective alongside conventional thermoelectrics. As such, it reviews the current state of research on thermoelectric Bi2Te3 nanomaterials, covering advanced methods of materials synthesis, characterization of materials structures and thermoelectric properties, as well as advances in the theory and modeling of transport properties. Nanomaterials-based thermoelectric devices are also discussed with respect to their properties, their suitability for different energy generation applications, and in light of their commercialization potential. An outlook on the chances, challenges and future directions of research rounds off the book, giving a straightforward account of the fundamental and technical problems - plus ways to overcome them.

For the efficient utilization of energy resources and the minimization of environmental damage, thermoelectric materials can play an important role by converting waste heat into electricity directly. Nanostructured thermoelectric materials have received much attention recently due to the potential for enhanced properties associated with size effects and quantum confinement. Nanoscale Thermoelectrics describes the theory underlying these phenomena, as well as various thermoelectric materials and nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes, SiGe nanowires, and graphene nanoribbons. Chapters written by leading scientists throughout the world are intended to create a fundamental bridge between thermoelectrics and nanotechnology, and to stimulate readers' interest in developing new types of thermoelectric materials and devices for power generation and other applications. Nanoscale Thermoelectrics is both a comprehensive introduction to the field and a guide to further research, and can be recommended for Physics, Electrical Engineering, and Materials Science departments.

This book provides an overview on nanostructured thermoelectric materials and devices, covering fundamental concepts, synthesis techniques, device contacts and stability, and potential applications, especially in waste heat recovery and solar energy conversion. The contents focus on thermoelectric devices made from nanomaterials with high thermoelectric efficiency for use in large scale to generate megawatts electricity. Covers the latest discoveries, methods, technologies in materials, contacts, modules, and systems for thermoelectricity. Addresses practical details of how to improve the efficiency and power output of a generator by optimizing contacts and electrical conductivity. Gives tips on how to realize a realistic and usable device or module with attention to large scale industry synthesis and product development. Prof. Zhifeng Ren is M. D. Anderson Professor in the Department of Physics and the Texas Center for Superconductivity at the University of Houston. Prof. Yucheng Lan is an associate professor in Morgan State University. Prof. Qinyong Zhang is a professor in the Center for Advanced Materials and Energy at Xihua University of China.

Flexible Thermoelectric Polymers and Systems Comprehensive review of the rapidly evolving field of flexible thermoelectric polymers Flexible Thermoelectric Polymers and Systems delivers an expansive exploration of the most recent developments in flexible thermoelectric polymers and composites, as well as their applications in thermoelectric generators and Peltier coolers. The book focuses on novel designs and applications of technologies such as low-dimensional thermoelectric materials and how the latest advances have begun to overcome problems including poor mechanical flexibility and high fabrication costs. The book begins with a review of the fundamentals of thermoelectric materials, including discussions of the properties of thermoelectric materials, the Seebeck, Peltier, and Thomson effects, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and thermoelectric generators, cooling, and sensors. It goes on to discuss more advanced developments in the field, such as flexible thermoelectric plastics and the thermoelectric properties of conducting polymers with ionic conductors. The book also includes: Thorough introductions to thermoelectric materials and systems, as well as the chemistry and physics of intrinsically conductive polymers Comprehensive explorations of thermoelectric PEDOTs, p-type thermoelectric polymers, and N-type thermoelectric polymers Practical discussions of thermoelectric composites of carbon nanotubes, graphene, and nanomaterials In-depth examinations of polymer composites of inorganic thermoelectric semiconductors Perfect for academic and industrial researchers and engineers in physics, materials science, chemistry, and engineering, Flexible Thermoelectric Polymers and Systems is also an indispensable resource for graduate students and early-career professionals working in those fields.

Heat transfer laws for conduction, radiation and convection change when the dimensions of the systems in question shrink. The altered behaviours can be used efficiently in energy conversion, respectively bio- and high-performance materials to control microelectronic devices. To understand and model those thermal mechanisms, specific metrologies have to be established. This book provides an overview of actual devices and materials involving micro-nanoscale heat transfer mechanisms. These are clearly explained and exemplified by a large spectrum of relevant physical models, while the most advanced nanoscale thermal metrologies are presented.