Enhanced thermoelectric performance of PEDOT:PSS self-supporting thick films through a binary treatment with polyethylene glycol and water

The as-prepared poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) films show very low thermoelectric properties due to their low conductivity. Most treatments are unable to significantly enhance the conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS thick films. Here, a new binary treatment method is reported by using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and water. The treated PEDOT:PSS thick films are flexible and self-supporting. The soaked PEDOT:PSS-4%PEG200 film shows a power factor of 61.4 mu Wm(-1) K-2 with the Seebeck coefficient of 20.8 +/- 1.5 mu V K-1 and electrical conductivity of 1415.7 +/- 21.2 S cm(-1). This binary treatment enhances the conductivity of PEDOT:PSS films by more than 3 orders of magnitude. The power factor of treated PEDOT:PSS films is 5000 times higher than that of the pristine films.