A series of conjugated poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene methine)s (PEDOT-Ms) with different side groups (e.g., electron-withdrawing, electron-donating, and electronneutralizing groups) containing 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) units was synthesized and characterized, showing low optical bandgaps. Then, the PEDOT-M polymers were blended with graphite (G) to prepare polymer-inorganic composites to compare their thermoelectric (TE) properties. The optical absorption study indicated direct bandgaps ranging from 1.72 to 1.79 eV. The results showed that PEDOT-M polymers with strongly electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups exhibited lower bandgap values and higher Seebeck coefficients, and their composites exhibited better TE properties than PEDOT-M with an electronneutralizing side group. The highest figure of merit (ZT) value for the (poly[{3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene-2,5-diyl} {p-nitrobenzylidene}{3,4-ethylenedioxythiophenequinodimethane-2,5-diyl}])(PEDOT-NBQ)/80 wt% G composite was 6.75 3 10 23 at 1208C, which was higher than the ZT value of the other PEDOT-M/G composites. These results reveal a novel approach using the structural modifications of polymers to improve the understanding of TE performance and confirm that the conjugated PEDOT-M samples studied are low-bandgap conducting polymers that can be used as TE materials. POLYM. COMPOS.,