= Solution
The <Seebeck effect> produces an <open-circuit voltage> when a material has a temperature gradient: $S=-dV/dT$ for the stated sign convention. A circuit containing dissimilar thermoelectric legs converts this into useful <voltage> and current. The intrinsic <thermoelectric figure of merit> is
$$
\boxed{Z=\frac{S^2\sigma}{\kappa},\qquad ZT=\frac{S^2\sigma T}{\kappa}.}
$$
Here $\sigma$ is <electrical conductivity> and $\kappa=\kappa_e+\kappa_L$ total <thermal conductivity>. $Z$ has units $\mathrm{K^{-1}}$; $ZT$ is dimensionless. A large <Seebeck coefficient> and <electrical conductivity>, together with low <thermal conductivity>, favour efficient conversion.
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