Self-Assembled Three-Dimensional Bi2Te3 Nanowire–PEDOT:PSS Hybrid Nanofilm Network for Ubiquitous Thermoelectrics

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.8b19767
• Publication Date: 2019-01-18T11:45:34Z
• Authors: Warittha Thongkham; Charoenporn Lerts...; Kanpitcha Jiramit...; Kittipong Tantisa...; Thitikorn Boonkoom; Manit Jitpukdee; Kitiphat Sinthipt...; Annop Klamchuen; Monrudee Liangruksa; Paisan Khanchaitit
• Keywords: Bismuth telluride; Thermoelectric generator; Topological insulator

Thermoelectric generation capable of delivering reliable performance in the low-temperature range (<150 °C) for large-scale deployment has been a challenge mainly due to limited properties thermoelectric materials. However, realizing interdependence topological insulators and thermoelectricity, new research dimension on tailoring using topological-insulator boundary states enhancement emerged. Here, we demonstrate promising hybrid nanowire bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) within conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) matrix situ one-pot synthesis be incorporated into three-dimensional network self-assembled nanofilms scalable application. Significantly, nanowire-incorporated film exhibits simultaneous increase electrical conductivity Seebeck coefficient as opposed reduced thermal conductivity, improving performance. Based comprehensive measurements electronic transport individual nanowires revealing an interfacial conduction path along Bi2Te3 core inside encapsulating layer that is n-type semiconducting, enhanced thermoelectricity ascribed increased hole mobility electron transfer from PEDOT:PSS importantly charge via Bi2Te3–PEDOT:PSS interface. Scaling up nanostructured material construct generator having generic pipeline-insulator geometry, device power factor figure merit 7.45 μW m–1 K–2 0.048, respectively, with unprecedented output 130 15 day operational stability at ΔT = 60 °C. Our findings not only encourage approach cost-effective generation, but they could also provide route other applications based nanowire.