Thermoelectric materials: Current challenges and prospects

Materiales termoeléctricos: Retos actuales y perspectivas.

Juan Jesús Reyes Valdez*

EPM de SECIHTI, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CICATA, Unidad Altamira

ORCID 0000-0002-0208-6667

Eugenio Rodríguez González

Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CICATA, Unidad Altamira

ORCID 0000-0003-4038-3918

Edna Carina De La Cruz Terrazas

SECIHTI–Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CICATA, Unidad Altamira

ORCID 0000-0002-0883-3707

Deyanira Del Angel López

Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CICATA, Unidad Altamira

ORCID 0000-0003-1969-5247

Ana Bertha López Oyama

SECIHTI–DIFUS–Universidad de Sonora

ORCID 0000-0002-6317-2569

Received: February 18, 2026 | Accepted: March 8, 2026 | Published online: March 11, 2026 |

How to cite:

Reyes Valdez, J. J., Rodríguez González, E., De la Cruz Terrazas, E. C., Del Ángel López, D., & López Oyama, A. B. (2026). Thermoelectric materials: Current challenges and prospects. Revista Multidisciplinaria de Ciencia Básica, Humanidades, Arte y Educación, 4(17), 16-22. DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18959819 

https://www.mjshae.org/2026/03/thermoelectric-materials-current.html [.RIS]

Abstract: 

Thermoelectric (TE) materials make it possible to convert temperature differences directly into electrical energy, or vice versa, through the Seebeck and Peltier effects. Their applications range from waste heat recovery to cooling and thereby contribute to reducing energy losses and environmental impact, making them attractive for the energy transition. Currently, strategies such as nanostructuring, the employment of new non.toxic and abundant materials, as well as the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to predict new materials and optimize parameters before synthesis are driving the development of more sustainable and efficient alternatives, consolidating TE materials as a technology with great potential in the energy and industrial fields.

Keywords: thermoelectric materials; thermoelectric effects; figure of merit; sustainable materials; artificial intelligence in materials.

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