Harvesting Thermal Energy through Pyroelectric and Thermoelectric Nanomaterials for Catalytic Applications

Abstract

The current scenario sees over 60% of primary energy being dissipated as waste heat directly into the environment, contributing significantly to energy loss and global warming. Therefore, low-grade waste heat harvesting has been long considered a critical issue. Pyroelectric (PE) materials utilize temperature oscillation to generate electricity, while thermoelectric (TE) materials convert temperature differences into electrical energy. Nanostructured PE and TE materials have recently gained prominence as promising catalysts for converting thermal energy directly into chemical energy in a green manner. This short review provides a summary and comparison of catalytic processes initiated by PE and TE effects driven by waste thermal energy. The discussion covers fundamental principles and reaction mechanisms, followed by the introduction of representative examples of PE and TE nanomaterials in various catalytic fields, including water splitting, organic synthesis, air purification, and biomedical applications. Finally, the review addresses challenges and outlines future prospects in this emerging field.