The thermoelectric power function of new composite Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate)/carbonyl iron films: A new exploration

In this work, carbonyl iron particles (CIR) have been mixed with a semi-metallic poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (designated PP) to produce a composite of PP/CIR films with a high Seebeck coefficient as a trail to overcome the low thermoelectric (TE) properties of PP polymer. The good distribution of CIR particles in the PP template leads to improving the TE performance. The reduction in the electrical conductivity (σ) is detected with the CIR content, with the lowest σ of 54.782 ± 6.803 Scm−1 at 50 wt% which is ∼ 5.5 times smaller than that of PP. The Seebeck coefficient (S) increases with the CIR content, with the optimal S of 120.778 ± 7.917 μVK−1 at 60 wt% which exceeds that of PP by a factor of ∼ 6. The highest power factor (PF) has been found to be 81.663 ± 2.346 μWm−1K−2 at 60 wt% which is 6 times larger than that of PP. The thermal conductivity k increases to be 0.680 ± 0.017 Wm−1K−1 at 70 wt%. The films exhibit a maximum zT of 0.039 ± 0.003 for 60 wt% at room temperature which is greater than that of PP by 2.7 times. This study offers simple, safe, economic, and effective TE composites with a large Seebeck coefficient which can be actually applied in TE generators and temperature sensors.