Thermoelectric performance of PEDOT:PSS/Bi2Te3-nanowires: a comparison of hybrid types

We herein compare the thermoelectric performance of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and Bi2Te3 nanowires (Bi2Te3-NWs) composites (PEDOT:PSS/Bi2Te3-NWs) including layer-by-layer assembly and hybrid structures by drop-cast as well as pellets. The Bi2Te3 nanowires are synthesized by a wet-chemical method. The hybrid PEDOT:PSS/Bi2Te3-NWs film with 10 wt% Bi2Te3-NWs has a higher electrical conductivity (401 S cm−1) and power factor (10.6 μW m−1 K−2) than that of layer-by-by layer assembly film. The Seebeck coefficient keeps mostly unchangeable for hybrid films as the increasing Bi2Te3-NWs which is different from layered films. The PEDOT:PSS/Bi2Te3-NWs pellets have a larger Seebeck coefficient (54 μV K−1) with a lower electrical conductivity (12.4 S cm−1) leading a lower power factor. The hybrid method for preparation of PEDOT:PSS/Bi2Te3-NWs film is a more efficient way for the enhancement of thermoelectric performance.