Thermoelectric cooling in atmospheric water harvesting: A critical review of materials, design, and applications

The principle of thermoelectric cooling (TEC) has been extensively investigated owing to its advantages in atmospheric water harvesting (AWH). Key advantages of this technology include direct energy conversion, low weight, and minimal maintenance requirements. This study reviews the TEC applications in AWH, focusing on device materials, design strategies, performance metrics, and existing limitations. A detailed bibliometric analysis was conducted on 202 peer-reviewed studies on TEC-AWH, sourced from Google Scholar and filtered for relevance, language, and scientific rigor (2000–2025). The temporal evolution of research output was mapped, and dominant thematic clusters were identified through keyword co-occurrence analysis. The review also highlights emerging frontiers, such as bio-inspired surfaces and AI-driven control and offers a strategic perspective for future research and innovation. Bismuth Telluride (Bi₂Te₃) remains the most widely utilized thermoelectric semiconductor material in TEC applications, owing to its high thermoelectric efficiency, stability, and availability. This makes Bi₂Te₃ a preferred candidate for integration into various energy conversion and cooling systems. Notably, bio-inspired and nature-mimicking surfaces have demonstrated a 20–40% improvement in water collection efficiency compared with flat or conventional hydrophobic coatings. Case studies further indicate that solar-TEC hybrid systems can generate 2–4 L/day in off-grid settings, significantly reducing dependence on bottled water and long-distance transportation. While TEC-AWH is not yet ready for large-scale deployment, it is on the cusp of transformative innovation. The integration of materials science, sustainable design principles, and artificial intelligence presents a unique opportunity to redefine global water sourcing.