Comprised of chapters dedicated to each family of thermoelectric materials prepared by the leading authorities in the field, this book provides an account of the development of materials that are viewed as the most promising for applications as thermoelectric power generators or thermoelectric coolers. It provides a detailed account of the advantages and shortcomings of novel thermoelectrical materials as well as informing the reader about the materials aspects of each family of thermoelectric materials: their synthesis, structural properties, thermoelectric parameters, and potential applications.