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Electrochemical Treatment for Effectively Tuning Thermoelectric Properties of Free‐Standing Poly(3‐methylthiophene) Films
Author(s) -
Hu Yongjing,
Zhu Danhua,
Zhu Zhengyou,
Liu Endou,
Lu Baoyang,
Xu Jingkun,
Zhao Feng,
Hou Jian,
Liu Huixuan,
Jiang Fengxing
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemphyschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.016
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1439-7641
pISSN - 1439-4235
DOI - 10.1002/cphc.201600233
Subject(s) - seebeck coefficient , materials science , propylene carbonate , thermoelectric effect , electrochemistry , lithium perchlorate , conductive polymer , doping , polymer , chemical engineering , electrical resistivity and conductivity , analytical chemistry (journal) , electrode , composite material , chemistry , thermal conductivity , organic chemistry , thermodynamics , optoelectronics , physics , electrical engineering , engineering
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.