title: Polymer composites for thermoelectric applications.
abstract: This review covers recently reported polymer composites that show a thermoelectric (TE) effect and thus have potential application as thermoelectric generators and Peltier coolers. The growing need for CO2-minimizing energy sources and thermal management systems makes the development of new TE materials a key challenge for researchers across many fields, particularly in light of the scarcity or toxicity of traditional inorganic TE materials based on Te and Pb. Recent reports of composites with inorganic and organic additives in conjugated and insulating polymer matrices are covered, as well as the techniques needed to fully characterize their TE properties.
authors.affiliation: Case Western Reserve University, Chemistry, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106 (USA).
authors.forename: Brendan T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: McGrail
authors.forename: Alp
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sehirlioglu
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pentzer
keywords: composites; conjugation; polymer-particle interfaces; polymers; thermoelectric effect