Thermoelectric　materials　can　be　used　in　direct　conversion　of　heat　to　electricity　and　vice　versa.　The　past　decade　has　witnessed　the　rapid　growth　of　thermoelectric　research,　targeting　high　thermoelectric　performance　either　via　reduction　in　the　lattice　thermal　conductivity　or　via　enhancement　of　the　power　factor.　In　this　review,　we　firstly　summarize　the　recent　advances　in　bulk　thermoelectric　materials　with　reduced　lattice　thermal　conductivity　by　nano-microstructure　control　and　also　newly　discovered　materials　with　intrinsically　low　lattice　thermal　conductivity.　We　then　discuss　ways　to　enhance　the　electron　transport　abilities　for　achieving　higher　power　factor　by　both　novel　and　traditional　methods.　Finally,　we　highlight　the　recent　development　in　single-crystal　thermoelectric　materials.　These　strategies　are　successful　in　synergistically　manipulating　the　thermal　conductivity　and　electron　transport　properties,　which　have　significantly　advanced　thermoelectric　performance　on　materials.　For　device　applications　on　these　high-performance　materials,　new　opportunities　may　arise　though　stability,　electrode　contacts,　mechanical　properties,　and　other　problems　need　to　be　solved　in　the　near　future.