Enhanced-Performance PEDOT:PSS/Cu2Se-Based Composite Films for Wearable Thermoelectric Power Generators

Herein, we report the preparation and thermoelectric (TE) properties of flexible PEDOT:PSS/Cu2Se-based nanocomposite films on a nylon membrane using facile vacuum filtration and then hot pressing. The main composition of the composite film changed during hot pressing, causing the change of the carrier transport and TE performance intensively. Consequently, the optimized film shows a high power factor of 820 mu W/mK(2) at 400 K, which is 3 times as high as that of the nonhot-pressed one. The film shows excellent flexibility with 85% retention of the power factor after 1000 bending cycles around a 5 mm diameter rod. The outstanding flexibility results from a good combination between the nylon membrane and the Cu2Se-based nanoporous structured film. By pairing with n-type PEDOT/Ag2Se/CuAgSe films, a ten-legged flexible TE generator outputs maximum voltage and power of 50 mV and 1.55 mu W, respectively, at a temperature difference of 44 K. Our research opens up a promising avenue to design high property flexible TE films for energy conversion.

Automated summary

In this study, a flexible PEDOT:PSS/Cu2Se-based nanocomposite film was prepared on a nylon membrane using vacuum filtration and hot pressing, demonstrating significantly improved thermoelectric properties. The optimized film showed a high power factor at 400K and excellent flexibility, retaining 85% of the power factor after 1000 bending cycles. Additionally, when paired with n-type PEDOT/Ag2Se/CuAgSe films, a flexible TE generator produced a maximum voltage and power output at a temperature difference of 44K.