Flexible thermoelectric nanodevices based on three-dimensional networks of poly(3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene) nanowires and graphene. (August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Hai-Hui; Zhang, Meng-Qi; Tian, Zi-Han; Liu, Peng-Fei; Liu, Yan-Xin; Zhang, Xing-Xiang
• Is Part Of: High performance polymers. Volume 33:Number 6(2021)
• Page Start: 657
• Page End: 664
• Publication Date: 2021-08
• Subjects: Thermoelectric nanodevice -- flexible material -- PEDOT nanowire -- graphene; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymers -- Periodicals; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1177/0954008320974432
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-0083

Abstract

Freestanding poly(3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) nanowires (NWs) were synthesized using a facile, self-assembled, micellar soft-template method. Thermoelectric properties of the PEDOT NWs under different reaction conditions were measured, and optimal experimental conditions were confirmed. To obtain preferential thermoelectric performance, PEDOT NWs/graphene composite films with various graphene mass fractions were fabricated. The maximum power factor of the hybrids was observed to reach 42.0 μWm −1 K −2 with 3 wt% graphene loading, corresponding to a 200% improvement compared with pure PEDOT NWs. The thermoelectric devices were investigated using the PEDOT NWs/graphene hybrids as a p-type leg and PEDOT NWs/nitrogen-doped graphene as an n-type leg. The device, in series, shows a preferable cooling effect with an approximate temperature decrease of 0.5°C after energization. Our work provides a novel means of fabricating n-type PEDOT hybrids and promotes their practical applications as thermoelectric coolers. These findings indicate a new means of developing high-performance, flexible, organic thermoelectric materials and devices.