Advances in integrated photo-thermal-electric energy conversion.

Photo-thermal-electric energy conversion enables the transformation of solar energy and thermal energy into electricity through photovoltaic, photothermal and thermoelectric effects. According to disparate components and device structures, diverse photo-thermal-electric energy conversion systems can be divided into solar thermoelectric generators (STEG), phase change material thermoelectric energy harvesting (PCM-TEG) systems, photovoltaic cell-thermoelectric generator (PVC-TEG) systems, photovoltaic-thermoelectric systems with phase change materials (PVC-PCM-TEG), and thermo-phototronic semiconductors (TPS). Specifically, STEGs consist of a solar absorber and thermoelectric generator, which convert solar energy into electricity by utilizing the photothermal and thermoelectric effect; PCM-TEG systems can offer a stable and significant temperature difference for TEG, benefiting from the heat storage capability of PCMs; PVC-TEG systems boost solar utilization efficiency through direct PVC photovoltaic electricity generation synergized with TEG thermoelectric conversion solar photothermal energy; PVC-PCM-TEG systems mitigate solar thermal fluctuations PCM integration; TPS systems enable spontaneous photo-thermal-electric interconversion the thermo-phototronic effect. This review provides a comprehensive overview of advanced photo-thermal-electric energy conversion systems and outlines future directions.