Recent Development of Thermoelectric Polymers and Composites

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Energy Conversion

Background:

• Thermoelectric materials convert heat to electricity and vice versa.
• Thermoelectric polymers offer advantages like flexibility, low cost, and low toxicity.
• Current ZT values for polymers exceed 0.25, with potential for improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in thermoelectric polymers and their composites.
• To explore the structure-property relationships in these materials.
• To highlight the potential for polymers to match inorganic thermoelectric performance.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of thermoelectric polymers and composites.
• Analysis of relationships between material structure (chemical, microstructural, doping) and thermoelectric properties.
• Focus on power factor and ZT value improvements.

Main Results:

• Thermoelectric polymer power factors are continuously improving.
• Composites with nanomaterials show enhanced thermoelectric properties.
• Key factors influencing performance include chemical structure, microstructure, and doping.

Conclusions:

• Thermoelectric polymers are a promising alternative to inorganic materials.
• Further improvements in thermoelectric polymers and composites are expected.
• Future research may lead to polymer-based devices comparable to inorganic counterparts.