Inorganic Thermoelectric Materials: Advances and Applications
A special issue of Inorganics (ISSN 2304-6740). This special issue belongs to the section "Inorganic Materials".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 649
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Inorganic thermoelectric materials have emerged as a pivotal research focus, offering a sustainable pathway for direct conversion between heat and electricity. These materials—such as bismuth telluride-based compounds, lead chalcogenides, and skutterudites—hold significant potential for applications in waste heat recovery, solid-state cooling, and power generation. However, despite recent advancements, further improvements in their performance and scalability are essential to meet global energy demands and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The thermoelectric efficiency of these materials is governed by their dimensionless figure of merit (ZT), which depends on the interplay between the Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity. Achieving high ZT values requires innovative strategies to decouple these inter-related properties, such as nanostructuring, band engineering, doping, and defect control. Furthermore, understanding the fundamental mechanisms behind electron–phonon interactions, carrier transport, and thermal management is critical for optimizing material performance.
This Special Issue, titled “Inorganic Thermoelectric Materials: Advances and Applications”, seeks to showcase cutting-edge research that pushes the boundaries of thermoelectric science and technology. We invite contributions spanning experimental and theoretical approaches, including the following:
- Novel synthesis and processing techniques for inorganic thermoelectrics;
- Advanced characterization of thermal and electronic transport properties;
- Theoretical modeling and computational design of high-performance materials;
- Strategies for enhancing ZT through nanostructuring, alloying, and composite design;
- Scalable fabrication and device integration for real-world applications.
Both original research articles and comprehensive reviews are welcome. By bringing together diverse perspectives, this Special Issue aims to foster collaboration and accelerate progress in this dynamic and impactful field.
We look forward to your valuable contributions.
Dr. Chengjin An
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- inorganic thermoelectrics
- energy conversion
- waste-heat recovery
- figure of merit (ZT)
- Seebeck coefficient
- thermal conductivity
- electrical conductivity
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