Will molecules ever sit at the thermoelectric table?

Abstract

Molecular junctions comprise small molecules on the order of one or a few nanometers in length, chemically attached to two electrodes of metal or semiconductors. They have recently been identified as promising candidates for materials/devices for thermoelectric energy conversion. Molecules have the potential to act as sharp energy filters for electrical currents and could outperform other materials considered for thermoelectric energy conversion so far, thereby providing a wide-spread technological relevance thermoelectrics could not achieve to date. However, there is a clear gap between predictions and demonstrations in the literature studying thermoelectric molecular junctions. This opinionated review seeks to highlight necessary steps needed for this approach to transition from fundamental research into a viable technology. Some important conjectures, on which the study of molecular junctions is based, are reviewed.