Premium
Systematic Power Factor Enhancement in n‐Type NiETT/PVDF Composite Films
Author(s) -
Me Akanksha K.,
Wolfe Rylan M. W.,
Marder Seth R.,
Reynolds John R.,
Yee Shan K.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201801620
Subject(s) - materials science , inert , polymer , composite number , thermoelectric effect , chemical engineering , pellets , nickel , counterion , composite material , metallurgy , organic chemistry , ion , thermodynamics , chemistry , physics , engineering
Nickel ethenetetrathiolate (NiETT) coordination polymers are shown to exhibit high thermoelectric performance as pressed pellets. Because the material is insoluble, films are formed by fabricating a composite of the material in an inert polymer matrix, a process that adversely impacts thermoelectric properties. To date, a reliable and reproducible synthesis has not been reported, which was the motivation for a systematic study of the substeps involved to understand the reaction mechanism. The results of these studies yield optimized reaction conditions for high performance n‐type films, which are derived from empirical studies and material characterization. Herein, a reaction procedure is presented that gives reproducible properties when preparing batches in the 0.5–15 g range. The identity of the counterion, nickel equivalency, and oxidation extent are investigated, which provide insight into the synthetic reaction mechanism and the ligand‐centered oxidation process in these polymers. Optimized materials based on Na[NiETT] exhibit one of the highest n‐type thermoelectric performance for solution‐processed films reported to date, with power factors of 23 µW (m K) −2 (due to conductivities approaching 50 S cm −1 ) while maintaining their stability in ambient conditions.