Recent advances and challenges in thermoelectrics toward near-room-temperature and high-temperature applications

) achieved through targeted optimization strategies, critical challenges related to practical applications remain across the entire temperature range, including resource sustainability, thermal stability, and scalable manufacturing. Meanwhile, advances in theoretical calculations are accelerating the integration of theory and practical synthesis, offering new pathways for rational material design. This review provides a timely and comprehensive overview of global progress in TE research over the past five years, with a particular focus on recent advances in near-room-temperature and high-temperature materials. By analyzing the new compositions, new mechanisms, and promising applications for representative systems, it outlines future directions for developing next-generation TE materials toward sustainable energy applications.