Advanced Fiber Materials, Volume. 6, Issue 5, 00441(2024)

Optimization of Wet-Spun PEDOT:PSS Fibers for Thermoelectric Applications Through Innovative Triple Post-treatments

Yu-Yu Deng1,†... Xiao-Lei Shi2,†, Ting Wu1, Yicheng Yue2,3, Wei-Di Liu2, Meng Li2, Fang Yue3, Pei Huang1, Qingfeng Liu1,* and Zhi-Gang Chen2,** |Show fewer author(s)
Author Affiliations
  • 1State Key Laboratory of Materials Oriented Chemistry Engineering, College of Chemistry Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211816 Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
  • 2School of Chemistry and Physics, ARC Research Hub in Zero-Emission Power Generation for Carbon Neutrality, and Centre for Materials Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
  • 3Merino & Co Ltd, Osborne Park, Perth, WA 6017, Australia
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    Owing to the high flexibility, low thermal conductivity, and tunable electrical transport property, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) exhibits promising potential for designing flexible thermoelectric devices in the form of films or fibers. However, the low Seebeck coefficient and power factor of PEDOT:PSS have restricted its practical applications. Here, we sequentially employ triple post-treatments with concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4), sodium borohydride (NaBH4), and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dichloroacetate (EMIM:DCA) to enhance the thermoelectric performance of flexible PEDOT:PSS fibers with a high power factor of (55.4 ± 1.8) μW m-1 K-2 at 25 °C. Comprehensive characterizations confirm that excess insulating PSS can be selectively removed after H2SO4 and EMIM:DCA treatments, which induces conformational changes to increase charge carrier mobility, leading to enhanced electrical conductivity. Simultaneously, NaBH4 treatment is employed to adjust the oxidation level, further optimizing the Seebeck coefficient. Additionally, the assembled flexible fiber thermoelectric devices show an output power density of (60.18 ± 2.79) nW cm-2 at a temperature difference of 10 K, proving the superior performance and usability of the optimized fibers. This work provides insights into developing high-performance organic thermoelectric materials by modulating polymer chains.

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    Yu-Yu Deng, Xiao-Lei Shi, Ting Wu, Yicheng Yue, Wei-Di Liu, Meng Li, Fang Yue, Pei Huang, Qingfeng Liu, Zhi-Gang Chen. Optimization of Wet-Spun PEDOT:PSS Fibers for Thermoelectric Applications Through Innovative Triple Post-treatments[J]. Advanced Fiber Materials, 2024, 6(5): 00441

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    Paper Information

    Category: Research Articles

    Received: Apr. 17, 2024

    Accepted: May. 23, 2024

    Published Online: Nov. 14, 2024

    The Author Email: Liu Qingfeng (qfliu@njtech.edu.cn), Chen Zhi-Gang (zhigang.chen@qut.edu.au)

    DOI:10.1007/s42765-024-00441-5

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