Thermoelectricity : concepts, materials and energy issues

The history of thermoelectricity began in the first half of the nineteenth century, with the discovery of the Seebeck and Peltier effects, followed by the work of Lord Kelvin. Over the last fifteen years or so, this field has undergone a profound renewal, with the discovery of new materials, the possibilities opened up by nano-structuring for the control of electronic and above all thermal properties, and a better understanding of the mechanisms involved. The first part of this lecture (spring 2013) will cover fundamental principles (thermoelectric effects, thermodynamics, electronic and thermal transport) and the major classes of materials. It should be followed in autumn 2013 by a lecture on various recent developments, particularly in the field of mesoscopic systems.