Optimal array alignment to deliver high performance in flexible conducting polymer‐based thermoelectric devices

Considerable thermal energy is emitted into the environment from human activities and equipment operation in the course of daily production. Accordingly, the use of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) can attract wide interest, and it shows high potential in reducing energy waste and increasing energy recovery rates. Notably, TEGs have aroused rising attention and been significantly boosted over the past few years, as the energy crisis has worsened. The reason for their progress is that thermoelectric generators can be easily attached to the surface of a heat source, converting heat energy directly into electricity in a stable and continuous manner. In this review, applications in wearable devices, and everyday life are reviewed according to the type of structure of TEGs. Meanwhile, the latest progress of TEGs’ hybridization with triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG), and photovoltaic effect is introduced. Moreover, prospects and suggestions for subsequent research work are proposed. This review suggests that hybridization of energy harvesting, and flexible high‐temperature thermoelectric generators are the future trends.

show abstract

Section: Hybridization Of Tegsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of Thermoelectric Generators: From Application to Hybridization

Liu

Tian

et al. 2023

Small

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…They showed that the Seebeck coefficient of PEDOT derivatives can be enhanced by 5 times when the electrical conductivity increases from 10 to 1500 S cm −1 , attributing this concurrent enhancement to a transition from a Fermi glass to a semimetal polymer . Recently, a high performance flexible thermoelectric device with power factor of ∼200 μW m –1 K –2 at room temperature has been demonstrated with PEDOT:PSS by optimizing the oxidation level and polymer chain alignment …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…26 Recently, a high performance flexible thermoelectric device with power factor of ∼200 μW m −1 K −2 at room temperature has been demonstrated with PEDOT:PSS by optimizing the oxidation level and polymer chain alignment. 27 To overcome the dilemma of poor solubility in common organic solvents and inhomogeneous film quality, research efforts have been directed toward designing conjugated polymers with various side chains, backbone planarization, and interchain interactions. 28 Derivatives of polythiophene are some of the most studied conjugated polymers as they show many degrees of chain alignment, molecular conformation, and doping-dependent structural changes resulting in opportunities to tune charge transport effectively.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Linking Polaron Signatures to Charge Transport in Doped Thiophene Polymers

Abutaha

Chellappan

Kumar

et al. 2023

ACS Appl. Energy Mater.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Carrier doping and structural morphology are key knobs to tune thermoelectric transport in conducting polymers. Optical signatures of doping can be correlated to the thermoelectric properties of conducting polymers. In this review, we focus on absorption spectroscopy to understand thermoelectric transport in conducting polymers. Thus, we quantitatively extract the carrier concentration from optical absorption signatures of polarons by linking the absorption ratio of the low-energy polaronic peak (P 1 ) and neutral excitons (π−π*) in doped thiophene-based films with electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient using the Boltzmann transport equations (BTE). The rate of change of electrical conductivity with carrier concentration (absorption ratio) differs with variation in doping and/or processing conditions, whereas the Seebeck coefficient decreases monotonically with carrier concentration regardless of doping method as expected. The correlation confirms that charge mobility is the key parameter to improve the TE performance where the method of doping or process conditions creates a wide range of structural disorder controlling the electrical and thermoelectric properties.

show abstract

Role of anionic surfactant addition in improving thermoelectric properties of PEDOT:PSS free-standing films

Hossain,

Yamamoto,

Baba

et al. 2024

J Polym Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) has recently gained interest as a potential candidate for small-scale thermoelectric conversion because of the facile doping, solution processability, and flexibility. However, the practical applications of PEDOT:PSS are limited by its comparatively low figure of merit (ZT) compared with inorganic thermoelectric materials. Herein, to further improve the thermoelectric properties of PEDOT:PSS, we investigated the role of the addition of surfactants, sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS) or Triton X-100, to the PEDOT:PSS free-standing films on their thermoelectric properties. We showed that the addition of the surfactant improved the film crystallinity, significantly improving the electrical conductivity. The highest conductivity was obtained for anionic surfactant SDBS at a 0.94 wt% concentration. Moreover, the inclusion of the surfactant reduced the thermal conductivity while maintaining a relatively constant Seebeck coefficient, consequently improving the ZT value. Furthermore, a flexible thermoelectric device crafted from the as-fabricated PEDOT:PSS/SDBS sheets was developed to explore the potential applications of wearable electronics using low-grade thermal energy. Overall, we indicate the significance of surfactants in enhancing the thermoelectric properties of free-standing PEDOT:PSS films in this study.

show abstract

Optimal array alignment to deliver high performance in flexible conducting polymer‐based thermoelectric devices

Cited by 12 publications

References 36 publications

Evolution of Thermoelectric Generators: From Application to Hybridization

Evolution of Thermoelectric Generators: From Application to Hybridization

Linking Polaron Signatures to Charge Transport in Doped Thiophene Polymers

Role of anionic surfactant addition in improving thermoelectric properties of PEDOT:PSS free-standing films

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About