Thermoelectric materials convert waste heat into electricity, makingsustainable power generation possible when a temperature gradient isapplied. Solar radiation is one potential abundant and eco-friendly heat sourcefor this application, where one side of the thermoelectric device is heated byincident sunlight, while the other side is kept at a cooler temperature. This isknown as solar thermoelectric generation. Various thermoelectric materialsare used for different solar thermoelectric applications, and different methodsare explored to enhance the temperature gradient across the material. Solaroptical concentrators, thermal and selective absorbers, and other tools areproposed to improve the performance of solar thermoelectrics. Despitecontinuous research and development, experimental solar thermoelectricefficiencies remain below 10, and theoretical efficiencies do not surpass20. In this review, the different designs of solar thermoelectric generatorsare examined within the context of thermoelectric elements, opticalconcentrators, solar absorbers, and other techniques to enhance theirperformance. Last, an overview of the current state of solar thermoelectrics isprovided, areas for improvement are suggested, and the future of thesedevices is predicted.
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