The thermoelectric properties of fully organic nanocomposites were investigated, for which meso-tetra(4-carboxyphenyl) porphine (TCPP) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) were used as instrinically conductive and semiconducting stabilizers, respectively. The electrical conductivity (s) of these dual-stabilizer organic composites increased to approximately 9500 S?m-1 as the concentrations of both the multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and PEDOT:PSS were increased. The thermopower (or Seebeck coefficient, S) and thermal conductivity, however, remained relatively unaffected by the increase in concentration (~40 �V?K-1 and ~0.12 W?m-1?K-1, respectively). Replacing MWNTs with double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) increased s and S to approximately 96000 S?m-1 and 70 �V?K-1, respectively, at 40 wt?% DWNT. This study suggests that s and S can be simultaneously tailored by using multiple stabilizing agents to affect the transport properties of the junctions between nanotubes. Combining semiconducting and intrinsically conductive molecules as CNT-stabilizers has led to a power factor that is among the best for a completely organic, free-standing film (~500 �W?m-1?K-2). These flexible, segregated-network nanocomposites now exhibit properties that rival the more conventional inorganic semiconductors, particularly when normalized by the mass.

Fully organic nanocomposites with high thermoelectric power factors by using a dual-stabilizer preparation

247th National Meeting (2014)

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