Advances and Outlooks for Carbon Nanotube-Based Thermoelectric Materials and Devices

Abstract

The unique structure of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) endows them with exceptional electrical and mechanical properties, along with a high surface area, making them highly beneficial for use as flexible, high-performing thermoelectric materials. As a result, the application of CNTs in the thermoelectric field has become increasingly widespread. Considering the rapid advancements in this field, this review offers a timely overview of the most recent progress on CNT-based thermoelectric materials and devices over the past five years. This review begins by introducing the fundamental concepts and thermoelectric mechanisms of CNT-based thermoelectric materials. Then new strategies are explored to enhance their thermoelectric performance, focusing on doping and composites, while emphasizing the importance of CNT stability as a key research area. Additionally, the latest design concepts and expanded application scenarios for flexible and wearable CNTs-based thermoelectric devices are summarized. Finally, the current challenges are addressed and future directions for the development of CNT-based thermoelectric materials and devices are discussed.