Simultaneous Enhancement of Electrical Conductivity and Seebeck Coefficient of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):Poly(styrenesulfonate) Films Treated with Urea

Abstract

The thermoelectric performance of free-standing poly(3,4-ethylenedioythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) thin films deposited from aqueous dispersion treated by different concentrations of urea are investigated in detail. The electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient and power factor of PEDOT:PSS films versus temperature are determined, respectively. It is found that both the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of PEDOT:PSS films are enhanced after treatment with urea. Conductivity could be enhanced from 8.16 to 63.13 S·cm−1, the Seebeck coefficient is increased from 14.47 to 20.7μV·K−1 and the power factor is rises to 2.7μW·m−1K−2 at 300 K.