One-dimensional nanostructure engineering of conducting polymers for thermoelectric applications

Abstract

The past few decades have witnessed considerable progress of conducting polymer-based organic thermoelectric materials due to their significant advantages over the traditional inorganic materials. The nanostructure engineering and performance investigation of these conducting polymers for thermoelectric applications have received considerable interest but have not been well documented. This review gives an outline of the synthesis of various one-dimensional (1D) structured conducting polymers as well as the strategies for hybridization with other nanomaterials or polymers. The thermoelectric performance enhancement of these materials in association with the unique morphologies and structures are discussed. Finally, perspectives and suggestions for the future research based on these interesting nanostructuring methodologies for improvement of thermoelectric materials are also presented.