As far back as the 1950’s the wide and varied capabilities of thermoelectricity became evident. Really, the later achievements of thermoelectricity were impressive. 

The use of thermoelectric generators has substantially contributed to space equipment for the investigation of planets of our Solar system and, to the exploration of outer Space. The application of thermoelectric cooling, especially with electronic engineering, has contributed to the progress of computer engineering, radio engineering, military and space engineering, measuring technology, etc. Thermoelectricity becomes widely applicable in medicine and household appliances.

The progress of thermoelectricity naturally was accompanied by a specialization of scientists and technical personnel of various branches of thermoelectricity such as research and applications. Some of them focused their efforts on the investigation and development of generators, others concentrated on coolers, measuring instruments, thermoelectric materials, etc. Everyone focused their work essentially to their own field and, therefore, could not keep abreast of the progress and problems in the other branches of thermoelectricity. The reason is that the information on different thermoelectricity fields of investigations was published in different specialized journals, sometimes inaccessible to an ordinary reader.

Meanwhile, all fields of thermoelectricity have a common origin and, therefore, the progress and problems in one field have common traits with the other branches. For example, the progress in creating efficient materials for coolers could have been widely used in thermoelectric measuring instruments. Thermoelectric detectors started to incorporate semiconductors materials only 20 to 30 years after they were used for cooling and electricity generation. This naturally, affected their scientific and technical level. Of course, such situations could have been less frequent if the experts in each field had possessed the information on the general state of affairs in thermoelectricity.

This fact leads to the idea of the need to present thermoelectricity in all its variety from a generalised common approach and to write a book in which all the fields of thermoelectricity would be covered.

I started this work in 1975 which resulted in 1979 in the book “Thermoelements and Thermoelectric Devices”, (Kiev, ‘Naukova Dumka", 735 p.). The book turned out rather thick and covered the basic trends in thermoelectricity: the theory of thermoelectric phenomena, the theory of thermoelements, thermoelectric materials, and all kinds of applications of thermoelectricity: generators, coolers, measuring instruments (temperature measuring thermocouples, heat flow meters, alternating current meters, calorimeters, radiation detectors, thermoelectric pumps for melted metals, etc.).

The book was published in Russian 7,000 copies were printed and the look was widely read. Today it is out of print and has become a bibliographic rarity.

In due course I received many helpful comments on the book. Taking this opportunity, I express my acknowledgment and gratitude to those readers for these comments. I was especially touched by the high appraisal of the book made by the patent experts. In their opinion, the book was of considerable help in their complicated work. The book contributed to the formation of young specialists and, I hope, in general, promoted the progress of thermoelectricity in Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, Kazahstan and other countries. Since I have received many proposals about a new edition. However, intensive scientific studies, participation in the development of various exceptionally interesting thermoelectric devices, the foundation of the Institute of Thermoelectricity and other matters persistently postponed my aspirations for reediting the book.

Eighteen years have passed. Many changes have come about in this time. Thermoelectricity has considerably progressed. I have learned more, about new achievements in thermoelectricity in many countries. Finally, my pupils and I have derived many substantial results.

These reasons have somewhat changed my idea of the new edition of the book. Firstly, I have become even more firmly convinced of the need to reedit it. Secondly, during this period many new facts have appeared in thermoelectricity which would have to be taken into account in the new edition of the book. Thirdly, there is today a number of readers outside of my country who would find this book helpful, this persuaded me to publish it in English as well.

When I began preparing for the new edition of this book, in view of the large scope of material I decided for the reader’s convenience to divide it into several volumes. I am preparing for publication 4 separate volumes under the following titles: “Physics of Thermoelectricity”, “Thermoelectric Energy Converters”, “Thermoelectric Materials”, “Thermoelectric Devices” with the common title “Thermoelectricity”. These titles correspond to the structure of my book published in 1979.

This is the first volume with the title “Physics of Thermoelectricity”. The fundamentals of the phenomenological theory of thermoelectricity have been presented in the book within the uniform treatment, as well as the description of thermoelectric effects and their classification. Besides general cognitive information, in this part of the book I hope to draw the reader’s attention to the existence of numerous new thermoelectric effects of high functional potentialities that have not been studied up to now. In my opinion, they will be undoubtedly helpful both for a detailed understanding of thermoelectric science and for practical applications.

The book also gives the fundamentals of microscopic theory of thermoelectricity. Fragmentary knowledge about this area of physics of thermoelectricity can be found in various monographs and textbooks. Therefore, I thought that a comprehensive treatment of this material, though in a concise form, would be useful for the reader. Naturally, the detailed presentation of the microscopic theory of thermoelectricity would require a much more extensive scope than that given to it in this book. The reader can find additional information on many subjects of interest in the many references listed at the end of each chapter.

The book also focuses on the basic postulates of the theory of eddy thermoelectric currents and thermoelectric energy conversion. I hope that this part of the book will stimulate new trends in thermoelectricity. I hope to increase in this way a number of associates inspiring them to investigate new potentialities of thermoelectricity originating from the theory of thermoelectric energy conversion.

Finally, the book contains the information-energy theory of thermoelectricity. Here, I would like to draw the reader’s attention to the fact that fascination for the applications of energy conversion (cooling and electricity generation) has undeservedly, practically eliminated the interest for the high potentialities of thermoelectricity in information transformation and transfer (measurements, etc.). Entering the 21st century, one can claim with little chances of mistake that scientific and technical progress will first of all be related to a greater extent, to the information evolution, than to the evolution in power engineering. Therefore, theoretical foundations of the information potentialities of thermoelectric devices can prove helpful for reader in this respect.

I hope that the book will be useful for, investigators in thermoelectricity, development engineers of thermoelectric equipment, physicists of all trends, post-graduates and students, and all those who are eager to better know thermoelectricity and, possibly, to become it’s ardent devotees. Having published this book, I shall have partially kept my old promise to the students of the Thermoelectricity Division of Chernivtsi University concerning the publication of my lectures.

I am, by no means, inclined to think that everything in this book is perfect. Therefore, all remarks, mistakes found in the book, requests aimed at its promotion will be accepted with understanding and gratitude.

In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude to my colleagues and disciples for our joint work of many years which resulted in the grains of knowledge involved in this book. Their names requiring space the reader will find them in the references.

I am particularly indebted to editors J. Stockholm and O.J. Luste; to Dr. V. Kozyrsky for comprehensive comments on the book text; to the Japanese company “Fujitaka Co., Ltd.” and Ukranian company “Bukrek, Ltd.” for their assistance in the publication of this book.