Thermoelectric Performance Improvement of Polymer Nanocomposites by Selective Thermal Degradation Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • 2019 American Chemical Society. Thermoelectric films composed of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA), graphene, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), and double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNT) were prepared by using layer-by-layer assembly, followed by heating in an inert atmosphere to selectively degrade film constituents to varying degrees. PEDOT:PSS was used to stabilize graphene and DWNT in water for deposition. A 20 quadlayer PDDA/PEDOT:PSS-graphene/PDDA/PEDOT:PSS-DWNT thin film heated to 425 C for 60 min (20 nm thick) exhibits a simultaneous increase in electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient, resulting in a power factor of 168 W m-1 K-2, which is an order of magnitude larger than that of the unheated control. This dramatic improvement in thermoelectric performance is due to degradation of the insulating poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride):poly(styrenesulfonate) complex within the film, while maintaining the highly ordered conductive network formed during deposition. This study reveals a simple strategy for preparing high performance organic thermoelectric materials by selectively thermally degrading the insulating material required for film deposition.

published proceedings

  • ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS

author list (cited authors)

  • Stevens, D. L., Parra, A., & Grunlan, J. C.

citation count

  • 15

complete list of authors

  • Stevens, Daniel L||Parra, Aaron||Grunlan, Jaime C

publication date

  • August 2019