Progress in Polymer Thermoelectrics

Abstract

This chapter addresses recent progress in the ield of polymer thermoelectric materials. It covers a brief introduction to intrinsically conductive polymers and its motivation for thermoelectric utilization. A review about important and recent literature in the ield of p-type and n-type polymers for thermoelectric applications is summarized here. For a beter understanding of material development issues, doping mechanisms for intrinsically conducting polymers are discussed. Special emphasis is given to n-type polymers, since this group of polymers is often neglected due to unavailability or poor stability during processing. Diferent possibilities in terms of generator design and fabrication are presented. Recent challenges in this scientiic ield are discussed in respect to current material development, uncertainty during the measurement of thermoelectric properties as well as temperature stability for the most prominent p-type polymer used for thermoelectric, PEDOT:PSS.

Poly(3,4 ethylenedioxythiophene)‐tosylate—Its synthesis, properties and various applications

“…At a room temperature of 27°C, the fabricated device generates a voltage of 8‐10 mV by the touch of fingertips. Moreover, composites of PEDOT‐Tos are also viable candidate for production of cost‐effective thermoelectric generator (TEG) at industrial scale 81 . A maximum thermoelectric power of 70 μWm −1 K −2 was also obtained from PEO‐b‐PPO‐b‐PEO BCP and Fe(Tos) 3 oxidant blended PEDOT‐Tos films from disordered nanostructures rather than ordered nanostructures.…”