High Thermoelectric Power Factor Organic Thin Films through Combination of Nanotube Multilayer Assembly and Electrochemical Polymerization

Culebras, Mario; Cho, Chungyeon; Krecker, Michelle; Smith, Ryan; Song, Yixuan; Gómez, Clara M.; Cantarero, A.; Grunlan, Jaime C.

doi:10.1021/acsami.6b15327

Cited by 55 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…This fact is anomalous and can be explained by an interdiffusion phenomenon between PDADMAC and DOC. Both charged molecules interact with each other due to the high concentration, forming agglomerates on the surface of the film [36]. This observation is in agreement with the SEM and TEM micrographs of the film cross-sections, presented in Figure 5.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene) Nanoparticles as Building Blocks for Hybrid Thermoelectric Flexible Films

Serrano-Claumarchirant

Culebras

Cantarero

et al. 2019

Coatings

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Hybrid thermoelectric flexible films based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes were prepared by using layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly. The employed PEDOT nanoparticles were synthesized by oxidative miniemulsion polymerization by using iron(III) p-toluenesulfonate hexahydrate (FeTos) as an oxidant and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) as stabilizer. Sodium deoxycholate (DOC) was used as a stabilizer to prepare the aqueous dispersions of the carbon nanotubes. Hybrid thermoelectric films were finally prepared with different monomer/oxidant molar ratios and different types of carbon nanotubes, aiming to maximize the power factor (PF). The use of single-wall (SWCNT), double-wall (DWCNT), and multiwall (MWCNT) carbon nanotubes was compared. The Seebeck coefficient was measured by applying a temperature difference between the ends of the film and the electrical conductivity was measured by the Van der Pauw method. The best hybrid film in this study exhibited a PF of 72 µW m −1 K −2 . These films are prepared from aqueous dispersions with relatively low-cost materials and, due to lightweight and flexible properties, they are potentially good candidates to recover waste heat in wearable electronic applications.Coatings 2020, 10, 22 2 of 12 polymer nanocomposites and hybrids can be a real alternative to typical inorganic semiconductors based, for instance, on Bi 2 Te 3 [3][4][5]. Conducting polymers based on poly(3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) have shown efficient values of ZT in the range from 0.1 to 0.4 [1,6,7]. On the other hand, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been shown to be good nanofillers to develop high efficient thermoelectric nanocomposites, reaching very high values of power factor (PF), defined as PF = S 2 σ [8-10]. It is known that the electrical properties of conducting polymers depend significantly on the arrangement of the polymer chains [11][12][13]. Since CNTs are rolled graphene sheets, π-π interactions can occur between the graphene ring of the carbon nanotube and the aromatic ring or double bonds of the conducting polymer, which can act as a template for an optimal ordering and, thus, produce a synergistic effect on thermoelectric properties [14]. In addition, the combination of conducting polymer and inorganic semiconductor-based on Te and Bi 2 Te 3 has demonstrated an enormous potential in terms of thermoelectric efficiency, being in some of the cases even higher than for the starting materials [15,16].Multilayered materials based on conducting polymers and carbon nanostructures (CNTs and graphene) stand out over the rest because their thermoelectric efficiency can be higher than bulk Bi 2 Te 3 . For example, very high power factors have been obtained for multilayered thin films prepared using layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly and based on polyaniline (PANI), double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNT) and graphene (1750 µW m −1 K −2 ), or PANI, DWCNT, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), and graphene (2710 µW m −1 K...

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene) Nanoparticles as Building Blocks for Hybrid Thermoelectric Flexible Films

Serrano-Claumarchirant

Culebras

Cantarero

et al. 2019

Coatings

Self Cite

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“…In fact, in Ref. , the CNTs are arranged in an almost closely packed network and the lateral sides of CNTs are in tight contact with each other, determining the high electrical conduction in the direction perpendicular to CNT axis. In the present study, the arrangement is rather different and we refined the characterization of the VA‐CNTF from this point of view.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To highlight the significance of our results, we compare in Figure three main parameters (the preparation time, the applied temperature difference during the TE measurements, and the PF) for the most efficient PEDOT:PSS‐based TE materials from the literature which rely on different fillers or doping: multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), doping treatment with secondary dopants (labeled as “chemicals” in the graph), Te nanorods, and hydrazine treatment of graphene‐doped polymer …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flexible Thermoelectric Polymer Composites Based on a Carbon Nanotubes Forest

Yusupov

Stumpf

You

et al. 2018

Adv Funct Materials

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Polymer-based composites are of high interest in the field of thermoelectric (TE) materials because of their properties: abundance, low thermal conductivity, and nontoxicity. In applications, like TE for wearable energy harvesting, where low operating temperatures are required, polymer composites demonstrate compatible with the targeted specifications. The main challenge is reaching high TE efficiency. Fillers and chemical treatments can be used to enhance TE performance of the polymer matrix. The combined application of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes forest (VA-CNTF) is demonstrated as fillers and chemical post-treatment to obtain high-efficiency TE composites, by dispersing VA-CNTF into a poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate matrix. The VA-CNTF keeps the functional properties even in flexible substrates. The morphology, structure, composition, and functional features of the composites are thoroughly investigated. A dramatic increase of power factor is observed at the lowest operating temperature difference ever reported. The highest Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity are 58.7 µV K −1 and 1131 S cm −1 , respectively. The highest power factor after treatment is twice as high in untreated samples. The results demonstrate the potential for the combined application of VA-CNTF and chemical post-treatment, in boosting the TE properties of composite polymers toward the development of high efficiency, low-temperature, flexible TEs. ThermoelectricsThe ORCID identification number(s) for the author(s) of this article can be found under https://doi.

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“…Grunlan et al prepared composites with multiple layers of PANi/graphene‐PEDOT:PSS/PANi/DWCNT‐PEDOT:PSS via LBL deposition . PEDOT:PSS was used as a surfactant to stabilize graphene and DWCNTs in the dispersions.…”

Section: Compositesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Development of Thermoelectric Polymers and Composites

Yao

Fan

Cheng

et al. 2018

Macromol. Rapid Commun.

252

156

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Thermoelectric materials can be used as the active materials in thermoelectric generators and as Peltier coolers for direct energy conversion between heat and electricity. Apart from inorganic thermoelectric materials, thermoelectric polymers have been receiving great attention due to their unique advantages including low cost, high mechanical flexibility, light weight, low or no toxicity, and intrinsically low thermal conductivity. The power factor of thermoelectric polymers has been continuously rising, and the highest ZT value is more than 0.25 at room temperature. The power factor can be further improved by forming composites with nanomaterials. This article provides a review of recent developments on thermoelectric polymers and polymer composites. It focuses on the relationship between thermoelectric properties and the materials structure, including chemical structure, microstructure, dopants, and doping levels. Their thermoelectric properties can be further improved to be comparable to inorganic counterparts in the near future.

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High Thermoelectric Power Factor Organic Thin Films through Combination of Nanotube Multilayer Assembly and Electrochemical Polymerization

Cited by 55 publications

References 38 publications

Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene) Nanoparticles as Building Blocks for Hybrid Thermoelectric Flexible Films

Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene) Nanoparticles as Building Blocks for Hybrid Thermoelectric Flexible Films

Flexible Thermoelectric Polymer Composites Based on a Carbon Nanotubes Forest

Recent Development of Thermoelectric Polymers and Composites

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