Citation: Liu Gang, Wang Tie. Research Progress in Thermoelectric Materials for Sensor Application[J]. Acta Chimica Sinica, ;2017, 75(11): 1029-1035. doi: 10.6023/A17060259 shu

Research Progress in Thermoelectric Materials for Sensor Application

Liu Gang ^a,b,, ,
Wang Tie ^b,

a.
School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083
b.
Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190

Corresponding author: Liu Gang,
Received Date: 9 June 2017
Available Online: 26 November 2017
Fund Project: the 1000 Young Talents Program, the National Natural Science Foundation of China 21422507the 1000 Young Talents Program, the National Natural Science Foundation of China 21635002Project supported by the 1000 Young Talents Program, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21422507, 21635002, 21321003) and the Chinese Academy of Sciencesthe 1000 Young Talents Program, the National Natural Science Foundation of China 21321003

Figures(8)

Sensors are core components for modern intelligent industry. Thermoelectric materials, which have significant influence on the design and functions for a variety types of sensors, attracted more and more attentions recently. In this paper, different categories of thermoelectric materials, such as silicon, carbon, lead, tellurium, precious metal, organic and catalysis based thermoelectric materials, are discussed in detail on their high sensitivity, fast response, and stability as potential candidates for specific sensors. The silicon-based thermoelectric materials are of particular efficiency in sensor data process and transmission due to their high purity. Carbon-based thermoelectric materials, including graphene and carbon nanotubes, advantage in their excellent conductivity, flexible structure, and manufactural controllability. Lead-based thermoelectric materials are mainly used as infrared sensors because of their natural sensitivity to infrared specially. Telluride-based thermoelectric materials, especially Bismuth Telluride and Antimony Telluride, can form PN junction and be applied as soft sensors. Products based on these materials have already been developed for detecting pulses. The precious metals-based thermoelectric materials, e.g. gold or silver, are commonly used as dopant in the organic thermoelectric materials to adjust their sensitivity. Organic thermoelectric materials benefit from their good stability and variability, while copper-bismuth alloy based thermoelectric materials are widely investigated to make gas sensors. In general, the inorganic thermoelectric materials normally feature high electrical conductivity, which enhances the sensitivity of sensors, whereas the organic thermoelectric materials have high stability to maintain the stability of sensors. At present, the miniaturization of sensors is the mainstream for both material study and device fabrication. Low dimensional thermoelectric materials, especially nano-scaled materials such as quantum dots, nanowires, etc., will for sure promote the progressing of sensor development. For example, carbon nanotube can be knit into specific sheets as we designed with tunable conductivity, which makes them of remarkable industrial potentials as soft sensors. Designing and fabricating multi-functional and space-saving thermoelectric materials with well aligned and effectively assembled nanomaterials would be a feasible and practicable approach for future sensors.
- sensor,
- thermoelectric materials,
- silicon nanowire,
- graphene
1. [1]
  Chowdhury, I.; Prasher, R.; Lofgreen, K.; Chrysler, G.; Nara-simhan, S.; Mahajan, R.; Koester, D.; Alley, R.; Venkatasubramanian, R. Nature Nanotech. 2009, 4, 235. doi: 10.1038/nnano.2008.417
2. [2]
  Li, J. F.; Liu, W.; Zhao, L. D.; Zhou, M. NPG Asia Mater. 2010, 2, 152. doi: 10.1038/asiamat.2010.138
3. [3]
  Rama, V.; Siivola, E.; Thomas, C.; O'Quinn, B. Nature 2001, 413, 597. doi: 10.1038/35098012
4. [4]
  Delaire, O.; Ma, J.; Marty, K.; May, A. F.; McGuire, M. A.; Du, M. H.; Singh, D. J.; Podlesnyak, A.; Ehlers, G.; Lumsden, M. D.; Sales, B. C. Nature Mater. 2011, 10, 614. doi: 10.1038/nmat3035
5. [5]
  Coucheron, D. A.; Fokine, M.; Patil, N.; Breiby, D. W.; Buset, O. T.; Healy, N.; Peacock, A. C.; Hawkins, T.; Jones, M.; Ballato, J.; Gibson, U. J. Nat. Commun. 2016, 7, 13265. doi: 10.1038/ncomms13265
6. [6]
  (a) Xie, P.; Xiong, Q.; Fang, Y.; Qing, Q.; Lieber, C. M. Nature Nanotech. 2011, 7, 119; (b) Boukai, A. I.; Bunimovich, Y.; Tahir-Kheli, J.; Yu, J. K.; Goddard, W. A., 3rd; Heath, J. R. Nature 2008, 451, 168; (c) Hochbaum, A. I.; Chen, R.; Delgado, R. D.; Liang, W.; Garnett, E. C.; Najarian, M.; Majumdar, A.; Yang, P. Nature 2008, 451, 163.
7. [7]
  Mao, J.; Liu, Z.; Ren, Z. npj Quantum Materials 2016, 1, 16028. doi: 10.1038/npjquantmats.2016.28
8. [8]
  McGrail, B. T.; Sehirlioglu, A.; Pentzer, E. Angew. Chem. 2015, 54, 1710. doi: 10.1002/anie.201408431
9. [9]
  Kroon, R.; Mengistie, D. A.; Kiefer, D.; Hynynen, J.; Ryan, J. D.; Yu, L.; Muller, C. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2016, 45, 6147. doi: 10.1039/C6CS00149A
10. [10]
  Wang, Z.; Leonov, V.; Fiorini, P.; Van Hoof, C. Sens. Actuators, A:Physical 2009, 156, 95. doi: 10.1016/j.sna.2009.02.028
11. [11]
  Liu, X.; Wang, Y.; Huang, Y.; Feng, X.; Fan, Q.; Huang, W. Acta Chim. Sinica 2016, 74, 664.
12. [12]
  He, W.; Zhang, G.; Zhang, X.; Ji, J.; Li, G.; Zhao, X. Appl. Energy 2015, 143, 1. doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.12.075
13. [13]
  Marichy, C.; Bechelany, M.; Pinna, N. Adv. Mater. 2012, 24, 1017. doi: 10.1002/adma.201104129
14. [14]
  Pu, X.; Liu, M.; Chen, X.; Sun, J.; Du, C.; Zhang, Y.; Zhai, J.; Hu, W.; Wang, Z. L. Science Advances 2017, 3, e1700015. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.1700015
15. [15]
  Zhang, C.; Meng, Y.; Kuang, J.; Xu, L. Acta Chim. Sinica 2015, 73, 409.
16. [16]
  Qian, X.; Su, M.; Li, F.; Song, Y. Acta Chim. Sinica 2016, 74, 565. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB201511301
17. [17]
  Zhu, W.; Deng, Y.; Cao, L. Nano Energy 2017, 34, 463. doi: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2017.03.020
18. [18]
  Zhang, F.; Zang, Y.; Huang, D.; Di, C. A.; Zhu, D. Nat. Commun. 2015, 6, 8356. doi: 10.1038/ncomms9356
19. [19]
  Wang, H.; He, Y. Sensors 2017, 17, 268. doi: 10.3390/s17020268
20. [20]
  Rao, S.; Pangallo, G.; Della Corte, F. G. Sensors 2016, 16, 67. doi: 10.3390/s16010067
21. [21]
  Li, W.; Feng, Z.; Dai, E.; Xu, J.; Bai, G. Sensors 2016, 16, 1880.
22. [22]
  Zhan, B.; Li, C.; Yang, J.; Jenkins, G.; Huang, W.; Dong, X. Small 2014, 10, 4042.
23. [23]
  Singh, S.; Lee, S.; Kang, H.; Lee, J.; Baik, S. Energy Storage Materials 2016, 3, 55. doi: 10.1016/j.ensm.2016.01.004
24. [24]
  Quan, Z.; Luo, Z.; Wang, Y.; Xu, H.; Wang, C.; Wang, Z.; Fang, J. Nano Lett. 2013, 13, 3729. doi: 10.1021/nl4016705
25. [25]
  Hong, M.; Chen, Z. G.; Yang, L.; Zou, J. Nanoscale 2016, 8, 8681. doi: 10.1039/C6NR00719H
26. [26]
  Snyder, G. J.; Lim, J. R.; Huang, C. K.; Fleurial, J. P. Nature Mater. 2003, 2, 528. doi: 10.1038/nmat943
27. [27]
  Galli, G.; Donadio, D. Nature Nanotech. 2010, 5, 701. doi: 10.1038/nnano.2010.199
28. [28]
  Zhou, H.; Kropelnicki, P.; Lee, C. Nanoscale 2015, 7, 532. doi: 10.1039/C4NR04184D
29. [29]
  Jung, S. W.; Shin, J. Y.; Pi, K.; Goo, Y. S.; Cho, D. D. Sensors 2016, 16, 2035. doi: 10.3390/s16122035
30. [30]
  Weiss, N. O.; Zhou, H.; Liao, L.; Liu, Y.; Jiang, S.; Huang, Y.; Duan, X. Adv. Mater. 2012, 24, 5782. doi: 10.1002/adma.201201482
31. [31]
  Liu, Q.; Chen, J.; Li, Y.; Shi, G. ACS Nano 2016, 10, 7901. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.6b03813
32. [32]
  Wu, G.; Zhang, Z. G.; Li, Y.; Gao, C.; Wang, X.; Chen, G. ACS Nano 2017, 11, 5746. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.7b01279
33. [33]
  Chen, J.; Wang, L.; Gui, X.; Lin, Z.; Ke, X.; Hao, F.; Li, Y.; Jiang, Y.; Wu, Y.; Shi, X.; Chen, L. Carbon 2017, 114, 1. doi: 10.1016/j.carbon.2016.11.074
34. [34]
  Ong, W.-L.; Rupich, S. M.; Talapin, D. V.; McGaughey, A. J. H.; Malen, J. A. Nature Mater. 2013, 12, 410. doi: 10.1038/nmat3596
35. [35]
  Lu, Z.; Zhang, H.; Mao, C.; Li, C. M. Appl. Energy 2016, 164, 57. doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.11.038
36. [36]
  Wu, H.; Huang, Y.; Xu, F.; Duan, Y.; Yin, Z. Adv. Mater. 2016, 28, 9881. doi: 10.1002/adma.201602251
37. [37]
  Cao, Z.; Koukharenko, E.; Tudor, M. J.; Torah, R. N.; Beeby, S. P. Sens. Actuators A:Physical 2016, 238, 196. doi: 10.1016/j.sna.2015.12.016
38. [38]
  Yadav, A.; Pipe, K. P.; Shtein, M. J. Power Sources 2008, 175, 909. doi: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2007.09.096
39. [39]
  Russ, B.; Glaudell, A.; Urban, J. J.; Chabinyc, M. L.; Segalman, R. A. Nature Rev. Mater. 2016, 1, 16050. doi: 10.1038/natrevmats.2016.50
40. [40]
  Bubnova, O.; Khan, Z. U.; Malti, A.; Braun, S.; Fahlman, M.; Berggren, M.; Crispin, X. Nature Mater. 2011, 10, 429. doi: 10.1038/nmat3012
41. [41]
  Zhang, Q.; Sun, Y.; Xu, W.; Zhu, D. Adv. Mater. 2014, 26, 6829. doi: 10.1002/adma.v26.40
42. [42]
  Ju, H.; Kim, J. Chem. Eng. J. 2016, 297, 66. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2016.03.137
43. [43]
  Song, H.; Cai, K. Energy 2017, 125, 519. doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2017.01.037
44. [44]
  Kim, G. H.; Shao, L.; Zhang, K.; Pipe, K. P. Nature Mater. 2013, 12, 719-23. doi: 10.1038/nmat3635
45. [45]
  Park, S. C.; Yoon, S. I.; Lee, C. I.; Kim, Y. J.; Song, S. Analyst 2009, 134, 236. doi: 10.1039/B807882C
1. [1]
  Liang WANG , Hongxu WU , Yunsong RAO , Dun HAN , Xuan SONG , Jianlong LIN , Dongfang LI , Sheng ZHANG . Research progress in graphene-based materials for hydrogen production via water electrolysis. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2026, 42(7): 1368-1382. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20260057
2. [2]
  Chaolin Mi , Yuying Qin , Xinli Huang , Yijie Luo , Zhiwei Zhang , Chengxiang Wang , Yuanchang Shi , Longwei Yin , Rutao Wang . Galvanic Replacement Synthesis of Graphene Coupled Amorphous Antimony Nanoparticles for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Capacitor. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2024, 40(5): 2306011-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202306011
3. [3]
  Pengcheng Yan , Peng Wang , Jing Huang , Zhao Mo , Li Xu , Yun Chen , Yu Zhang , Zhichong Qi , Hui Xu , Henan Li . Engineering Multiple Optimization Strategy on Bismuth Oxyhalide Photoactive Materials for Efficient Photoelectrochemical Applications. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2025, 41(2): 100014-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202309047
4. [4]
  Songmei Ma , Ying Zhang , Gang Liu , Wenlong Xu . Comprehensive Experiment Teaching Exploration and Practice in Polymeric Materials Integrating Research-Driven Learning, Creativity-Enhanced Competency, and Science-Education Synergy: A Case Study of Machine Learning-Assisted Intelligent Handwriting Recognition System. University Chemistry, 2026, 41(1): 289-297. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202509083
5. [5]
  Anbang Du , Yuanfan Wang , Zhihong Wei , Dongxu Zhang , Li Li , Weiqing Yang , Qianlu Sun , Lili Zhao , Weigao Xu , Yuxi Tian . Photothermal Microscopy of Graphene Flakes with Different Thicknesses. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2024, 40(5): 2304027-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202304027
6. [6]
  Zhihuan XU , Qing KANG , Yuzhen LONG , Qian YUAN , Cidong LIU , Xin LI , Genghuai TANG , Yuqing LIAO . Effect of graphene oxide concentration on the electrochemical properties of reduced graphene oxide/ZnS. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2024, 40(7): 1329-1336. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20230447
7. [7]
  Hailang JIA , Yujie LU , Pengcheng JI . Preparation and properties of nitrogen and phosphorus co-doped graphene carbon aerogel supported ruthenium electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2025, 41(11): 2327-2336. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20250021
8. [8]
  Yuanchun Pan , Xinyun Lin , Leyi Yang , Wenya Hu , Dekui Song , Nan Liu . Artificial Intelligence Science Practice: Preparation of Electronic Skin by Chemical Vapor Deposition of Graphene. University Chemistry, 2025, 40(11): 272-280. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202412052
9. [9]
  Cun WANG , Shaohan XU , Yuqian ZHANG , Yaoyao ZHANG , Tao GONG , Rong WEN , Yuhang LIAO , Yanrong REN . Terbium complex electrochemiluminescent emitters: Synthesis and application in the detection of epinephrine. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2025, 41(7): 1351-1360. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240427
10. [10]
  Tao Xu , Wei Sun , Tianci Kong , Jie Zhou , Yitai Qian . Stable Graphite Interface for Potassium Ion Battery Achieving Ultralong Cycling Performance. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2024, 40(2): 2303021-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202303021
11. [11]
  Yang Meiqing , Lu Wang , Haozi Lu , Yaocheng Yang , Song Liu . Recent Advances of Functional Nanomaterials for Screen-Printed Photoelectrochemical Biosensors. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2025, 41(2): 100018-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202310046
12. [12]
  Yue Zhang , Bao Li , Lixin Wu . GO-Assisted Supramolecular Framework Membrane for High-Performance Separation of Nanosized Oil-in-Water Emulsions. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2024, 40(5): 2305038-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202305038
13. [13]
  Zifeng LIN , Shanshan GONG , Yang SHA , Zhenmin ZHANG , Changlin YU . Graphene quantum dots/SnS₂ composite nanosheets: Preparation and photocatalytic performance in reducing Cr(Ⅵ). Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2026, 42(5): 959-968. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20250320
14. [14]
  Ke Zhao , Zhen Liu , Luyao Liu , Changyuan Yu , Jingshun Pan , Xuguang Huang . Functionalized Reflective Structure Fiber-Optic Interferometric Sensor for Trace Detection of Lead Ions. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2024, 40(4): 2304029-0. doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB202304029
15. [15]
  Shixin SHI , Zhuohang LIU , Yuan SUN , Jingshen LI , Weixiang CHEN . Synthesis and electrochemical lithium storage performance of high-entropy NiCoSnZnFeS_x and reduced graphene oxide composite. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2026, 42(9): 1984-1996. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20250372
16. [16]
  Qingtao CHEN , Xiangdong SHI , Xianghai RAO , Liying JIANG , Chunxiao JIA , Fenghua CHEN . Catalytic and in situ surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection properties of graphene oxide/gold nanorod assembly. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2026, 42(1): 120-128. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20250091
17. [17]
  Qiaoqiao BAI , Anqi ZHOU , Xiaowei LI , Tang LIU , Song LIU . Construction of pressure-temperature dual-functional flexible sensors and applications in biomedicine. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2024, 40(12): 2259-2274. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240128
18. [18]
  Lin′an CAO , Dengyue MA , Gang XU . Research advances in electrically conductive metal-organic frameworks-based electrochemical sensors. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2025, 41(10): 1953-1972. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20250160
19. [19]
  Wei Zheng , Yanyu Chen , Rizhong Gao , Chao Lu . Development and Application of Primary Battery-based Humidity Sensors: Advancing a New Paradigm for Integrated Experimental Teaching through Science-Education Synergy. University Chemistry, 2026, 41(4): 393-399. doi: 10.12461/PKU.DXHX202503009
20. [20]
  Haihuan YU , Jing SUN , Zhongmin SU . Research progress of water-stable metal-organic frameworks fluorescent sensors in food safety detection. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2026, 42(8): 1569-1581. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20260062

Get Citation

PDF

XML

Metrics

PDF Downloads(41)
Abstract views(4386)
HTML views(597)

通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

1.
沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院沈阳 110142