Issue 11, 2013

Thermoelectric power factor optimization in PEDOT:PSS tellurium nanowire hybrid composites

Abstract

The thermoelectric properties of a unique hybrid polymer–inorganic nanoparticle system consisting of tellurium nanowires and a conducting polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), can be optimized by both controlling the shape of the nanoparticles and the loading and doping of the polymeric matrix with polar solvents. The mechanism for an observed improvement in power factor is attributed to the unique conducting nature of PEDOT:PSS, which exhibits a transition from a hopping transport-dominated regime to a carrier scattering-dominated regime upon doping with polar solvents. Near this transition, the electrical conductivity can be improved without significantly reducing the thermopower. Relying on this principle, the power factor optimization for this new thermoelectric material is experimentally carried out and found to exceed 100 μW m−1 K−2, which is nearly five orders of magnitude greater than pure PEDOT:PSS.

Graphical abstract: Thermoelectric power factor optimization in PEDOT:PSS tellurium nanowire hybrid composites

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 Dec 2012
Accepted
28 Jan 2013
First published
31 Jan 2013

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013,15, 4024-4032

Thermoelectric power factor optimization in PEDOT:PSS tellurium nanowire hybrid composites

S. K. Yee, N. E. Coates, A. Majumdar, J. J. Urban and R. A. Segalman, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013, 15, 4024 DOI: 10.1039/C3CP44558E

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