Session 1-1

Abstract

Transverse thermoelectric effects interconvert charge and heat currents in orthogonal directions due to the breaking of either time-reversal symmetry or structural symmetry, enabling simple and versatile thermal energy harvesting and solid-state cooling/heating within single materials. In comparison to the complex module structures required for the conventional Seebeck and Peltier effects, the transverse thermoelectric effects provide the complete device structures, potentially resolving the fundamental issue of multi-module degradation of thermoelectric conversion performance. In this talk, we provide an overview of currently known transverse thermoelectric conversion phenomena and principles, as well as their characteristics, and reclassifies them in a unified manner [1,2]. To discuss the performance of the transverse thermoelectric conversion, thermal boundary conditions play an essential role [2,3]. Examples of recent application research and material development in transverse thermoelectrics are also introduced, followed by a discussion of future prospects [4-6].