This paper reviews materials for thermoelectric waste heat recovery, and discusses selected industrial and distributed waste heat sources as well as recovery methods that are currently applied. Thermoelectric properties, especially electrical conductivity, thermopower, thermal conductivity and the thermoelectric figures of merit, are considered when evaluating thermoelectric materials for waste heat recovery. Alloys and oxides are briefly discussed as materials suitable for medium- and high-grade sources. Electroactive polymers are presented as a new group of materials for low-grade sources. Polyaniline is a particularly fitting polymer for these purposes. We also discuss types of modifiers and modification methods, and their influence on the thermoelectric performance of this class of polymers.
The research was aimed at the development of the composition and technology of semiconducting materials based on polyaniline. Such materials, which have simple methods of production, are lightweight and have high thermal resistance, may be used in electrotechnical, electronic, and automotive devices, such as power generators and cooling or heat recovery elements.
The technology for the production of semiconductive materials based
on polyaniline-modified hydrochloric or camphorsulfonic acid is presented. The influence of the acid type on the electrical conductivity of the polymer was determined. Thermal analysis was performed for the obtained materials.
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