热电材料是一种利用固体中载流子(电子和空穴)运动实现热能和电能直接相互转换的功能材料，在温差发电和便携式制冷等领域得到重要应用。目前，如何协调优化载流子和声子的输运性能，从而提高热电材料能量转换效率，使其在利用余热发电方面发挥更大应用价值是材料学家研究的主要目标。简要介绍了热电效应的基本原理，总结了热电材料发展中的诸多关键科学问题，从结构设计(原子结构、纳米结构以及微米结构)方面综述了近年来的主要研究成果，并强调了温差发电技术对解决当前环境污染和能源危机的重要意义。

Thermoelectric materials, which can realize the direct conversion between heat and electricity by utilizing the carrier (electron and hole) mobility, have potential applications in thermo-electricity generation and portable refrigeration. Nowadays, the primary goal for thermoelectric research is to enhance the thermoelectric efficiency by the independent optimization of the electronic and thermal transport properties, which will amplify the practical application value of thermoelectric materials in electric power generation from waste heat. In this paper, we introduce the fundamental principles of thermoelectric effects, summarize the crucible issues in the development of thermoelectric materials, review the outstanding research achievements from structural design (atom, nano and micro-scale) and emphasize the significance of thermoelectric generation to the environmental pollution and energy crisis.