Green Energy Materials: Pathway to the Green Future

Abstract

The increases in power costs and environmental pollution are major contributors to global warming worldwide. Modern power generating systems therefore require green technologies that focus on improving energy harvesting-based power generation. Green energy materials are essential for converting other types of energy into electrical energy. Among the major energy storage technologies, heat energy storage has maximum efficiency and can be converted into electrical energy by thermoelectric devices. Thermoelectric materials play a dual role: they convert thermal energy into electricity via the Seebeck effect and provide heating or cooling when electrical energy is applied through the Peltier effect. This review highlights the role of thermoelectric devices in converting heat to electricity and in the reverse process for effective thermal management. The review also encompasses the utilization of renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaics, for hydrogen generation to mitigate the intermittency of solar energy.