Thermoelectrics in thin films with van der Waals interfaces

Abstract

Substantial amounts of low-temperature waste heat are emitted from objects of various shapes and remain unused. Flexible thermoelectrics have garnered considerable attention for the efficient conversion of waste heat into electricity. Such flexible materials feature numerous van der Waals (vdW) interfaces. Thus, a basic understanding of the thermoelectric properties of vdW interfaces is crucial for enhancing the thermoelectric performance of flexible thermoelectrics. Herein, we present the results of our systematic study pertaining to the thermoelectric properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes as a thermoelectric model with vdW interfaces and discuss their future potential.