Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) as promising organic thermoelectric materials: A mini-review

Systematic research on the thermoelectric (TE) properties of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) has been carried out intensively recent years, and great progress on improving its TE performance has been made. In this mini-review, we present various materials based on PEDOT in nanoscales, mixtures, and composites and summarize their TE performances, which may facilitate the future TE research of PEDOT. [Display omitted] ► We present the progress of PEDOT-based thermoelectric (TE) materials. ► The TE performances of PEDOTs in nanoscales, mixtures, and composites are summarized. ► A ZT of 10−1 can be easily obtained nowadays for some PEDOT TE materials. ► The perspectives of organic TE materials as well as PEDOTs are also speculated. This mini-review presents the progress of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)-based thermoelectric (TE) materials having been made in recent years. Systematic research on the TE properties of PEDOT has been carried out since 2008, and then attracted more and more attentions. For PEDOT-based materials, a ZT of 10−1 can be easily obtained nowadays. Considering the advanced techniques for bulk material processing and intensive concerns on PEDOT, a ZT ∼100 may be possible for PEDOT-based TE materials in the near future. However, this TE performance level (10−1–100) may be enough for military and niche applications, since other inherent attributes of PEDOT such as weight, size, and flexibility may be of greater importance. In this paper, we reviewed various materials based on PEDOT in nanoscales, mixtures, and composites and summarized their TE properties, which might facilitate the future TE research of PEDOT.