Recent Advances of Layered Thermoelectric Materials

With the continuous demands on developing renewable energy technologies to solve the global energy crisis, thermoelectric materials have attracted huge attention due to their ability to convert waste heat to useful electricity. The main advantage of layer-structured materials for thermoelectric purposes and applications is that they can separate the interdependent electrical and thermal conductivity to optimize their contribution to thermoelectric energy conversion. The anisotropic electronic and phononic transport behaviors in layered structures are the crucial driving forces behind the growing interest for this family of materials. In this review, recent progress of layered thermoelectric materials and their ubiquitous physical properties including their competitive advantages and disadvantages are analyzed and summarized. Layered cobalt oxides, bismuth selenide, artificial superlattice, 2D materials, and van der Waals heterostructures are discussed. It is suggested that the development of layered materials, artificial superlattices, complex nitrides, and carbon-based materials may play important roles in thermoelectric power regeneration.