Linear and nonlinear mesoscopic thermoelectric transport with coupling with heat baths

Decades of research on thermoelectrics stimulated by the fact that nano- and meso-scale thermoelectric transport could yield higher energy conversion efficiency and output power has recently uncovered a new direction on inelastic thermoelectric effects. We introduce the history, motivation, and perspectives on mesoscopic inelastic thermoelectric effects. (C) 2016 Academie des sciences. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.