Linear and Nonlinear Mesoscopic Thermoelectric Transport with Coupling to Heat Baths

TL;DR

This paper reviews mesoscopic inelastic thermoelectric effects, highlighting their potential for improved energy conversion efficiency at nano- and meso-scales, and discusses historical context, motivations, and future perspectives.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the development, significance, and future outlook of inelastic thermoelectric effects at mesoscopic scales.

Findings

Mesoscopic inelastic thermoelectric effects can enhance energy conversion efficiency.

Historical and motivational context for mesoscopic thermoelectric research.

Future perspectives on inelastic thermoelectric phenomena.

Abstract

Decades of research on thermoelectrics stimulated by the fact that nano- and meso-scale thermoelectric transport could yield higher energy conversion efficiency and output power has recently uncovered a new direction on inelastic thermoelectric effects. We introduce the history, motivation, and perspectives on mesoscopic inelastic thermoelectric effects.