Research Progress of Micro-Nano Thermoelectric Fibers Fabricated by Template Methods

The escalating demand ford carbon-neutral energy systems has spurred intensive research on high-performance thermoelectric (TE) materials, which enable direct and pollutant-free conversion of thermal-to-electrical energy. Unlike fossil fuel-based power generation, TE devices produce no greenhouse gases or toxic byproducts during operation, making them ideal for sustainable energy harvesting. Among various TE materials, micro-nanoscale flexible TE fibers combine the high performance of bulk TEs with structural flexibility, opening up broad application prospects in energy conversion, cooling, temperature sensing, thermal management, and imaging. Template-assisted methods have proven effective for fabricating diverse high-performance TE fibers. This review systematically summarizes three mainstream template-assisted methods for TE fiber preparation: thermal drawing, template-assisted chemical deposition, and electrospinning. We further compare the key properties and practical applications of TE fibers fabricated via different routes. Finally, critical challenges and future directions for template-assisted fabrication of high-performance flexible TE fibers are highlighted.