Thermoelectric materials: Current challenges and prospects

Thermoelectric (TE) materials make it possible to convert temperature differences directly into electrical energy, or vice versa, through the Seebeck and Peltier effects. Their applications range from waste heat recovery to cooling and thereby contribute to reducing energy losses and environmental impact, making them attractive for the energy transition. Currently, strategies such as nanostructuring, the employment of new non.toxic and abundant materials, as well as the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to predict new materials and optimize parameters before synthesis are driving the development of more sustainable and efficient alternatives, consolidating TE materials as a technology with great potential in the energy and industrial fields.