ABSTRACT
Thermoelectric effect is a phenomenon in that heat can be transferred to electricity directly, and vice versa. It is a promising eco-friendly energy generation and cooling method that attracts lots of attention. However, the low energy convention efficiency limits its further application. As theoretically calculated by Hicks and Dresselhaus, better thermoelectric performance is expected in nanostructure materials due to the quantum confinement effect. One-dimensional nanowires are predicted to exhibit better thermoelectric properties than some nanomaterials, such as nanoparticles and superlattice films. This chapter aims to focus on the updated theoretical and experimental achievements of some kinds of nanowire materials, including Bi2Te3-based series, Si-based series, SnSe-based series, PbTe-based series, CuSe-based series, and organic-inorganic nanocomposites, etc. Several kinds of nanowire micro-devices are comprehensively summarized, including InAs nanowire devices, Si nanowire devices, Bi2Te3-based nanowire film devices, etc. The fabrication method, unique micro-structure, device designs, and outstanding thermoelectric performance of nanowire materials and micro-devices are described in detail. Finally, the challenge and outlook are put forward for how to further enhance the thermoelectric performance of materials and devices.
