Venue: Lecture Hall, Block B, High-Level Laboratory Building

Report Time: Monday, January 19,2026,9:00 AM

Report Title: Research on High-Performance Thermoelectric Materials and Devices for Medium-and Low-Temperature Waste Heat Power Generation

Presenter: Professor Wang Hong (Xi'an Jiaotong University)

Report Abstract: 

Thermoelectric energy conversion technology enables the direct conversion of thermal energy into electrical energy. Due to its advantages—including simple structure, absence of moving parts, noise-free operation, and environmental friendliness without pollution—this technology holds broad application prospects in waste heat recovery and distributed power generation. However, how to effectively enhance the conversion efficiency of flexible thermoelectric materials and the output power of related devices has remained a major challenge in this field. By proposing an original "microscopic interface dimension-matching theory," the research team has gained a deep understanding of and successfully overcome the limitations imposed by phonon-electron coupling on thermoelectric performance. Guided by this theory, the team successfully developed a novel organic composite material based on a discontinuous carbon nanotube network structure. This material achieved a significant increase in the thermoelectric figure of merit, ZT, reaching as high as 120%, thereby setting a new world record. This breakthrough not only establishes a solid theoretical foundation for the design of nanofilm thermoelectric materials but also, through analysis of the band structure of one-dimensional carbon nanotubes, reveals an effective mechanism for simultaneously enhancing both the electrical conductivity and the Seebeck coefficient of the material via precise control of the Fermi level. The achievements of this study extend beyond basic theoretical exploration, demonstrating substantial potential for practical applications. The "integrated asymmetric organic thermoelectric device" successfully developed by the team achieves an output power density of 110 W/m², making its performance comparable to state-of-the-art devices worldwide. To date, related technologies have secured multiple authorized invention patents, and successful technological commercialization and industrial collaborations have been achieved. In the future, this technology is poised to be applied in various critical domains—such as low-temperature power generation at heating stations and medium-to-low temperature thermoelectric power generation—thereby contributing to national energy strategies and sustainable development goals.

Speaker Biography:

Wang Hong is a Third-Class Professor at the School of Energy and Power Engineering of Xi 'an Jiaotong University, a National High-Level Young Talent, an academic backbone of the National Key Laboratory of Green Hydrogen and Electricity, and the Deputy Director of the Shaanxi Provincial Youth Work Committee of the Jiusan Society. His primary research focuses on fundamental theories and key technologies related to thermoelectric energy conversion devices. He has led over 10 research projects, including four national-level projects—among them a key project of the Science and Technology Committee of the Central Military Commission—and one project that received an "Excellent" evaluation result in its final review under the General Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China. He has published over 50 SCI-indexed papers as the first or corresponding author, including one paper in *Joule* and three papers in sub-journals of *Nature*, with nine of these papers having an impact factor exceeding 20; two of his papers were featured in the news coverage of the National Natural Science Foundation of China as representative achievements of funded research; he holds nine invention patents as the first inventor, has successfully commercialized one patent, with a commercialization revenue of 997,000 yuan; he has co-authored one English monograph; and he has authored *Organic Thermoelectric Materials*, a high-quality textbook for the 14th Five-Year Plan, serving as its chief editor. Additionally, he has served as an Associate Editor, Guest Editor, or Editorial Board Member for five academic journals, including *Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica* (impact factor = 10.9). He has chaired numerous international and domestic energy conferences, delivering over 30 presentations—including plenary, keynote, and invited talks—at both international and domestic academic events. He has also won the first prize (ranked 1st) in the 2022 Shaanxi Provincial Science and Technology Workers' Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, as well as the first prize (ranked 1st) in the 2024 Shaanxi Higher Education Institutions' Outstanding Scientific and Technological Research Achievements Competition.

School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (School of Carbon Neutrality and Future Technologies)

January 15,2026