Thermoelectric materials are functional materials that utilize the movements of charge carriers to achieve the direct interconversions between heat and electricity. Recently, high-performance thermoelectric materials and multifunctional devices have witnessed explosive progresses to alleviate energy burdens. As the energy consumption in buildings continues to increase, the integration of thermoelectric materials with buildings provides a promising solution to improve the energy utilization efficiency. However, despite the rapid progress in thermoelectric technology, there remains a scarcity of comprehensive reviews and systematic assessments focused on the integration and applications of thermoelectric materials in building environments. This timely paper provides a thorough introduction to the research landscape, encompassing applications of thermoelectric materials, a brief historical overview of building technologies, and recent research trends in thermoelectric materials pertinent to buildings. We systematically elucidate the principles of thermoelectric materials and outlines the specific properties required for their application across various building components. Following this, the focus is on representative thermoelectric materials across four critical domains: energy harvesting, building cooling, temperature monitoring, and corrosion prevention. The discussion is structured according to the positioning and functional roles of devices integrated within buildings. Finally, we summarize the key findings and underscore the challenges and the future prospects for thermoelectric materials and devices in building applications.

中文翻译：

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热电材料及其在建筑物中的应用


热电材料是利用电荷载流子的运动实现热和电之间的直接相互转换的功能性材料。近年来，高性能热电材料和多功能器件在减轻能源负担方面取得了爆炸性的进展。随着建筑物能耗的不断增加，热电材料与建筑物的集成为提高能源利用效率提供了有前途的解决方案。然而，尽管热电技术取得了快速发展，但仍然缺乏专注于热电材料在建筑环境中的集成和应用的综合回顾和系统评估。这篇及时的论文全面介绍了研究前景，包括热电材料的应用、建筑技术的简要历史概述以及与建筑物相关的热电材料的最新研究趋势。我们系统地阐明了热电材料的原理，并概述了它们在各种建筑构件中的应用所需的特定特性。在此之后，重点是四个关键领域的代表性热电材料：能量收集、建筑冷却、温度监测和防腐蚀。讨论根据建筑物内集成设备的定位和功能作用进行组织。最后，我们总结了主要发现，并强调了热电材料和器件在建筑应用中面临的挑战和未来前景。