Advanced Thermoelectric Materials for Energy Harvesting Applications

Electrical energy consumption is negatively affecting our environment and contributing to climate change. Therefore the research and industrial communities are working hard to minimize energy consumption using promising energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies. We know that it is possible to convert heat energy into electrical energy using thermoelectric devices; this heat energy can be from the sun or from an electro-mechanical device. However, thermoelectric devices traditionally suffer from lower efficiencies of energy conversion. This book, Advanced Thermoelectric Materials for Energy Harvesting Applications, is a researchintensive textbook consisting of eight chapters organized into three sections. Section 1 consists of Chapters 2, 3, and 4, which cover advanced thermoelectric materials and the topics of organic/inorganic thermoelectric materials, quantum theory of the Seebeck coefficient for the advancement of thermoelectric superconducting material, and the limits of Bismuth Telluride-based thermoelectric materials. Section 2, containing Chapters 5 and 6, evaluates behaviors and performance of thermoelectric devices. Section 3, containing Chapters 7 and 8, focuses on energy harvesting applications of thermoelectric devices. This book will be of interest to a wide range of individuals, such as scientists, engineers, researchers, and undergraduate and postgraduate students in the field of advanced thermoelectric materials.