Electrochemical Treatment for Effectively Tuning Thermoelectric Properties of Free‐Standing Poly(3‐methylthiophene) Films |
| |
| Authors: | Yongjing Hu Danhua Zhu Zhengyou Zhu Endou Liu Dr Baoyang Lu Prof Jingkun Xu Prof Feng Zhao Jian Hou Dr Huixuan Liu Dr Fengxing Jiang |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Jiangxi Engineering Laboratory of Waterborne Coatings, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, P. R. China;2. State Key Laboratory for Marine Corrosion and Protection, Luoyang Ship Material Research Institute, Qingdao, P. R. China |
| |
| Abstract: | The degree of oxidation of conducting polymers has great influence on their thermoelectric properties. Free‐standing poly(3‐methylthiophene) (P3MeT) films were prepared by electrochemical polymerization in boron trifluoride diethyl etherate, and the fresh films were treated electrochemically with a solution of propylene carbonate/lithium perchlorate as mediator. The conductivity of the resultant P3MeT films depends on the doping level, which is controlled by a constant potential from ?0.5 to 1.4 V. The optimum electrical conductivity (78.9 S cm?1 at 0.5 V) and a significant increase in the Seebeck coefficient (64.3 μV K?1 at ?0.5 V) are important for achieving an optimum power factor at an optimal potential. The power factor of electrochemically treated P3MeT films reached its maximum value of 4.03 μW m?1 K?2 at 0.5 V. Moreover, after two months, it still exhibited a value of 3.75 μW m?1 K?2, and thus was more stable than pristine P3MeT due to exchange of doping ions in films under ambient conditions. This electrochemical treatment is a significant alternative method for optimizing the thermoelectric power factor of conducting polymer films. |
| |
| Keywords: | doping level electrochemistry polymers thermoelectrics thin films |
|
|
