ABSTRACT
Energy crisis of the world is daunting and solution is the sustainable inexhaustible energy alternatives. Practically, most of the power generation/ conversion technology offers efficiency far below the theoretical limit set by Carnot efficiency, leading to generation of waste heat. Harvesting this waste heat and converting into useful electrical energy can not only be a means to boost power generation efficiencies, but it is potentially the most viable solution for increasing demand for energy. Thermoelectric material can directly convert heat flux into electricity through the Seebeck effect, thus providing a green technology for power production and conversion. Whether thermoelectric material can find a place in real application or not depends upon its conversion efficiency. A highly efficient thermoelectric material should display high electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient. At the same time to maintain thermal gradient across its ends, material should demonstrate low thermal conductivity. A vast amount of research on thermoelectric materials in recent times is focused on either discovering new high efficiency materials or improving the efficiency of incumbent materials by means of microstructure engineering. Recently, carbon-based 2D material (such as graphene) has shown promising outcomes. It has gained its merit over other conventional thermoelectric materials, mainly owing to its high 4strength, flexibility, and fracture toughness, which are highly beneficial in preventing thermo-mechanical failure of components due to thermal shock during the service. Despite all the mechanical benefits, graphene being gapless semiconductor exhibits high thermal conductivity.
