Electrochemical Treatment for Effectively Tuning Thermoelectric Properties of Free‐Standing Poly(3‐methylthiophene) Films

Abstract

The degree of oxidation of conducting polymers has great influence on their thermoelectric properties. Free-standing poly(3-methylthiophene) (P3MeT) films were prepared by electrochemical polymerization in boron trifluoride diethyl etherate, and the fresh films were treated electrochemically with a solution of propylene carbonate/lithium perchlorate as mediator. The conductivity of the resultant P3MeT films depends on the doping level, which is controlled by a constant potential from -0.5 to 1.4 V. The optimum electrical conductivity (78.9 S cm(-1) at 0.5 V) and a significant increase in the Seebeck coefficient (64.3 μV K(-1) at -0.5 V) are important for achieving an optimum power factor at an optimal potential. The power factor of electrochemically treated P3MeT films reached its maximum value of 4.03 μW m(-1) K(-2) at 0.5 V. Moreover, after two months, it still exhibited a value of 3.75 μW m(-1) K(-2) , and thus was more stable than pristine P3MeT due to exchange of doping ions in films under ambient conditions. This electrochemical treatment is a significant alternative method for optimizing the thermoelectric power factor of conducting polymer films.