Preparation of TEG material based on conducting polymer PEDOT: PSS through treatment by nitric acid

Abstract

Sustainable energy sources are gaining popularity due to the ever increasing energy demand along with escalating costs and the environmental issues associated with the conventional sources of energy. Among the technologies available today, TEGs (Thermoelectric Generators) are intensively investigated due to their capability of harnessing electricity from waste heat, such as power plants, industries, automobiles and even human bodies. Our work focuses on the development of high efficiency organic thermoelectric materials to harness energy from ambient sources such as solar and domestic heat. In this present work, poly (3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/(poly)styrenesulfonate (PEDOT: PSS) was post treated using nitric acid in order to increase its electrical conductivity, hence the efficiency. A maximum electrical conductivity of 197.51 S/cm was achieved which was approximately 115 times than that of the untreated material. Improvement of the electrical conductivity after post-treatment is due to the depletion of the non-conducting PSS after the acid treatment. Hence, it is concluded that it is an easy method to achieve comparatively good thermoelectric properties which can find its uses in flexible thermoelectric applications.