热电材料直接将热能与电能进行转换可作为再生能源组件及做成致冷芯片,是一种极具发展前景的能源材料。着重分析了影响热电优值的基本因素,探讨了提高热电优值的3条途径,即对现有材料晶格进行多元掺杂、降低材料维数、研制新型结构材料,并阐述和展望了热电材料在发电和制冷方面的应用前景。
Thermoelectric materials are drawing more attention as renewable energy components and cooling chips because of the problems of energy shortage and environmental pollution. In this paper, the influence factors of thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) are analyzed and the approaches to improving ZT, including multiple doping, decreasing the material dimension and developing new structural materials,are discussed. The application of thermoeleetric materials is also reviewed.