200 Years of Thermoelectricity

This book presents an annotated collection of the most influential papers on the thermoelectric effect published over the last two centuries. Beginning with the independent pioneering observations of thermoelectric phenomena by Volta and Seebeck, the book takes the reader through the history of the fundamental physics behind thermoelectricity, continuing on through the innovation and discovery of novel thermoelectric materials throughout the 20th century and beyond. Each publication featured in this book is reproduced in its entirety and is thoroughly annotated by an international team of distinguished researchers in the field of thermoelectrics. With English translations of the earliest and most formative papers on the subject, the book provides a unique opportunity for not only young researchers and newcomers to the field, but also senior scholars to rediscover and relive the evolution of this groundbreaking discipline in materials science.