Thermoelectric plastics: from design to synthesis, processing and structure-property relationships

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Energy Conversion

Background:

• Thermoelectric plastics are polymer-based materials enabling direct heat-to-electricity conversion.
• They offer processing advantages over traditional inorganic thermoelectrics.
• Applications include waste heat recovery, localized cooling, and power for autonomous electronics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current trends in thermoelectric plastics.
• To discuss the key components influencing thermoelectric performance.
• To highlight potential applications and future directions.

Main Methods:

• Exploration of organic semiconductors, particularly conjugated polymers.
• Discussion of dopants, counterions, and insulating polymers for property tuning.
• Introduction of nanocomposites with conductive fillers (e.g., carbon nanotubes, graphene).

Main Results:

• Structure-property relationships in conjugated polymers for thermoelectric applications are examined.
• The role of doping in processing and structure formation is elucidated.
• Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)-based materials show promising thermoelectric performance.

Conclusions:

• Thermoelectric plastics offer a versatile platform for energy harvesting and thermal management.
• The combination of organic semiconductors, dopants, insulating polymers, and conductive fillers enables tailored material properties.
• Bulk architectures, particularly for wearable applications, showcase unique advantages.