Additive manufacturing of thermoelectric materials: materials, synthesis and manufacturing: a review

Thermoelectric materials have advanced significantly in terms of machinery, manufacturing technique and technology over the last 10 years. However, conventional processing methods still necessitate a multitude of processing steps, thereby yielding material loss and imposing a substantial surge in manufacturing expenditures, which significantly obstructs the advancement of intricate and scalable thermoelectric devices. Additive manufacturing technology (AM) is an emerging and innovative technology offering rapid manufacturing cycles and efficient production of intricate geometries. While additive manufacturing has been utilized for fabricating thermoelectric materials, its application in the manufacturing of thermoelectric devices remains somewhat restricted. Although there have been some research reviews of AM thermoelectric materials in recent years, they are basically focused on the development and achievements of AM thermoelectric materials. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the research advancements of additive manufacturing technology in the fabrication of thermoelectric materials. It discusses the impacts of various processing parameters on the quality of the fabricated thermoelectric materials and their resulting thermoelectric properties. Simultaneously, each additive manufacturing technology for the fabrication of thermoelectric devices, as well as future research objectives and problems, is thoroughly examined.