The role of spin in thermoelectricity

Thermoelectric (TE) materials and devices are crucial for renewable thermal-to-electrical energy conversion applications. The optimization of TE performance can be achieved by manipulating four fundamental degrees of freedom: charge, lattice, spin and orbital. Historically, most strategies to improve TE performance focus on phonon and electron charge transport properties. However, in the past 15 years, the field of spin caloritronics, which explores the interplay among heat, charge and spin, has emerged. The inclusion of spins has introduced conceptually innovative mechanisms and versatile functionalities for solid-state thermal-to-electrical energy conversion. Here, we review the recent theoretical and experimental progress in the field of spin caloritronics. We discuss the strategic role of spin-related mechanisms in improving charge-based TE performance and the recent developments in the novel magneto-TE and thermospin effects as well as their potential applications. This Review offers a perspective for understanding the role of spin in TE, designing new high-efficiency TE materials and developing new TE technology beyond the conventional framework. Spin caloritronics explores the interplay among spin, heat and charges in condensed matter towards new thermoelectric functionalities and applications. This Review provides an analysis of the role of spin in enhancing charge-based thermoelectricity, magneto-thermoelectricity and thermospin effects.

Automated summary

Thermoelectric materials and devices play a crucial role in renewable thermal-to-electrical energy conversion. The optimization of thermoelectric performance can be achieved by manipulating charge, lattice, spin, and orbital. The emerging field of spin caloritronics, which explores the interplay among heat, charge, and spin, introduces innovative mechanisms and versatile functionalities for thermal-to-electrical energy conversion. This review discusses the recent progress in spin caloritronics, including the role of spin-related mechanisms in improving charge-based thermoelectric performance and the developments in magneto-thermoelectricity and thermospin effects.