Thermoelectric devices based on one-dimensional nanostructures

Compared with the bulk, one-dimensional (1D) nanostructural materials exhibit enhanced thermoelectric performance. The figures of merit for most bulk materials used in practical devices are close to 1. However, the values for 1D nanostructural materials have reached 2.5 from experiments and could exceed 10 from theoretical simulations. This review discusses popular thermoelectric materials and devices based on 1D nanostructures, including preparation of nanostructures and fabrication of thermoelectric devices. Measurement approaches and the related devices for testing the thermal conductivity of 1D nanostructures were presented. Three potentially hot topics associated with thermoelectric properties of 1D nanostructures were discussed.