Amidst the global challenges posed by pollution, escalating energy expenses, and the imminent threat of global warming, the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions has become increasingly imperative. Thermoelectricity, a promising form of green energy, can harness waste heat and directly convert it into electricity. This technology has captivated attention for centuries due to its environmentally friendly characteristics, mechanical stability, versatility in size and substrate, and absence of moving components. Its applications span diverse domains, encompassing heat recovery, cooling, sensing, and operating at low and high temperatures. However, developing thermoelectric materials with high-performance efficiency faces obstacles such as high cost, toxicity, and reliance on rare-earth elements. To address these challenges, this comprehensive review encompasses pivotal aspects of thermoelectricity, including its historical context, fundamental operating principles, cutting-edge materials, and innovative strategies. In particular, the potential of one-dimensional nanostructuring is explored as a promising avenue for advancing thermoelectric technology. The concept of one-dimensional nanostructuring is extensively examined, encompassing various configurations and their impact on the thermoelectric properties of materials. The profound influence of one-dimensional nanostructuring on thermoelectric parameters is also thoroughly discussed. The review also provides a comprehensive overview of large-scale synthesis methods for one-dimensional thermoelectric materials, delving into the measurement of thermoelectric properties specific to such materials. Finally, the review concludes by outlining prospects and identifying potential directions for further advancements in the field.

Securing net-zero targets by employing sustainable materials for the built environment is highly desirable, and this can be achieved by retrofitting existing non-smart windows with thermoelectric (TE) glazing, providing improved thermal performance along with green electricity production. It is reported that TE glazing could produce ~4000 kWh of power per year in a cold climate with a temperature differential of ~22 °C. This feature of TE materials drives their emplacement as an alternative to existing glazing materials and could lead to the identification of optimum solutions for smart window development. However, few attempts have been made to employ TE materials in glazing. Therefore, in this brief review, we discuss, for the first time, the efforts made to employ TE in glazing, identify their drawbacks, and discuss potential solutions. Furthermore, the working principle, suitable materials, and methods for developing TE glazing are discussed. In addition, this article introduces a new research area and provides researchers with detailed instructions on how to build and optimize this system. The maximum efficiency of a thermoelectric material is determined by its thermoelectric figure of merit, which is a well-defined metric to characterize a device operating between the hot-side and cold-side temperatures. TE material’s figure of merit promises new perspectives on the conceivable future energy-positive built environment. The role of TE in tackling the energy crisis is also discussed, since it provides sustainable energy alternatives

CuI is a well-known thermoelectric (TE) material recognized for its p-type characteristics. However, the development of its n-type counterpart and the integration of both p- and n-type CuI in thermoelectric generators (TEGs) remain largely unexplored. In this study, we successfully tuned the thermoelectric properties of CuI by strategically incorporating Ag, enabling the synthesis of both p-type (Ag_0.2Cu_0.8I) and n-type (Ag_0.9Cu_0.1I) materials using a cost-effective, greener, and scalable successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. The p-type Ag_0.2Cu_0.8I exhibited a figure of merit (ZT) of 0.47 at 340 K, driven by a high Seebeck coefficient of 810 μV·K^-1. In contrast, the n-type Ag_0.9Cu_0.1I achieved an exceptional ZT of 2.5 at 340 K, attributed to an ultrahigh Seebeck coefficient of -1891 μV·K^-1. These superior thermoelectric properties make CuI-based materials attractive alternatives to conventional TE materials, such as Bi₂Te₃ and PbTe, which are limited by toxicity and resource scarcity. Furthermore, a prototype thermoelectric glazing unit (5 × 5 cm²) demonstrated a 14 K temperature differential, highlighting its dual functionality in power generation and building heat loss mitigation. These findings underscore the potential of low-cost CuI-based materials for advancing sustainable energy technologies.

Al/Fe dual-doped nanoporous ZnO nanorods enable enhanced visible-light-driven photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution through improved charge separation and surface reactivity.

The performance of solar photovoltaic systems is impacted by dust accumulation, raising maintenance concerns and discouraging wider adoption to accelerate decarbonization pathways. This research investigates the influence of environmental dynamics on dust accumulation based on several locations, considering weather conditions, seasonality, and angular installation variations, over a three-month period. Low-iron glass coupons were employed to collect on-site soiling from four different locations: agricultural, residential, industrial, and desert. The samples collected were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphology, X-ray diffraction (XRD) for mineralogy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) for elemental analysis, spectrophotometry for optical properties, and I–V tracing for efficiency analysis. The data were processed using ANFIS techniques to extract the maximum power point (MPP) and reduce the power losses. The results showed significant differences in the dust properties across the sites, influenced by the topography, weather conditions, and human activity. The measurements revealed a decrease in transmittance of up to 17.98%, resulting in power losses of up to 22.66% after three months. The findings highlight the necessity for tailored maintenance strategies to mitigate the impact of human activities and site-specific factors on performance. This could be employed in developing predictive models providing valuable insights for sustaining solar energy systems.