In Situ Chemical Oxidative Polymerization Preparation of Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)/Graphene Nanocomposites with Enhanced Thermoelectric Performance

Abstract

Three different in situ chemical oxidative polymerization routes, that is, (A) spin-coating and subsequent liquid layer polymerization, (B) spin-coating followed by vapor phase polymerization, and (C) in situ polymerization and then post-treatment by immersion in ethylene glycol (EG), have been developed to achieve poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/reduced graphene oxide (PEDOT/rGO) nanocomposites. As demonstrated by scanning electron microscopic and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopic techniques, PEDOT has been successfully coated on the surface of the rGO nanosheets by each of the three preparation routes. Importantly, all of the nanocomposites display a greatly enhanced thermoelectric performance (power factors) relative to those of the corresponding neat PEDOT.

In-situ fabrication and enhanced thermoelectric properties of carbon nanotubes filled poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) composites

“…For example, A film consisting of PEDOT:PSS functionalized Te nanorods prepared directly from water was reported by See et al [21], and the ZT value of the hybrid film reached about 0.1 at RT. A PEDOT-RGO film via insitu preparation was reported by Xu et al [23], and the samples reached a highest power factor of 14.2 mW m À1 K À2 .…”

“…The ZT value approaches the value required for efficient devices. In addition, in order to use the good TE properties of inorganic TE nanomaterials, many works have also been carried out on adding inorganic TE nanomaterials into PEDOT matrix [19][20][21][22][23]. For example, A film consisting of PEDOT:PSS functionalized Te nanorods prepared directly from water was reported by See et al [21], and the ZT value of the hybrid film reached about 0.1 at RT.…”

Flexible Thermoelectric Materials and Generators: Challenges and Innovations

“…[29,61,62] Another potential method is to develop organic/inorganic hybrids, including incorporating TE fillers into conductive polymers via ex situ [63][64][65] and in situ synthesis, [66][67][68] or by intercalating organic molecules into inorganic layered structures. [69,70] In such organic/ inorganic hybrids, inorganic fillers such as inorganic TE particles [63,65,71] and carbon-based nanomaterials [72][73][74] can provide extra current pathways [75][76][77] and in turn induce energy-filtering effects in the flexible polymer matrix, while organic molecules can provide the desired flexibility for the inorganic host. [65,73] For inorganic FTE thin films, continuous flexibility can be realized through either depositing inorganic TE thin films on flexible substrates [78] using atomic deposition techniques, [79] or applying CNT scaffolds [80] or nanostructure tailoring [81] to develop free-standing inorganic FTE films.…”

The Cross‐Linking Effect on the Thermoelectric Properties of Conjugated Polymer/Carbon Nanotube Composite Films

“…Chen et al reported that poly‐Schiff base/SWCNT composite exhibits σ of 412 S cm −1 and PF of 77.7 µW m −1 K −2 . SWCNTs are commonly used in TE composites due to their high conductivity, non‐toxicity, and light weight in combination with numerous inorganic materials …”

“…[17] SWCNTs are commonly used in TE composites due to their high conductivity, non-toxicity, and light weight in combination with numerous inorganic materials. [33][34][35] Thermoelectric Composite insulating organic material with conducting inorganic nanomaterial is a promising way to compensate the electrical conductivity, which is a prerequisite for the practical realization of the organic thermoelectrics. It is demonstrated that organic-inorganic interfacial interactions play critical rules for composites' thermoelectric performance.…”