Advanced porous thermoelectric materials: Design, construction, and application

Thermoelectric (TE) technology, capable of converting heat directly into electricity, holds great promise for applications requiring efficient energy output, such as wearable devices and aerospace vehicles. However, the widespread use of traditional TE materials is limited by challenges such as high density, brittleness, and coupling of thermoelectric parameters. Porous TE materials offer a potential solution by enabling lightweight, enhancing mechanical flexibility, and reducing thermal conductivity by rational design and precise control of the pore structure. This review examined recent advances in the construction of optimized pore structures, including the size, distribution, and geometry. We summarized the state-of-the-art synthesis and classification for porous TE materials, highlighting methods for tuning pore configurations to enhance TE efficiency. Additionally, we also collected the cutting-edge device ensemble strategies and demonstrated their application such as aerospace, temperature management, and medical devices. Finally, we took an outlook on the rational and intelligent design of pore structures and their integration into systems for energy output. This review provides new understanding of mechanisms and designs for porous TEs, and also offers valuable guidance for the development of next-generation materials and their application in innovative self-powered systems.