A Highly Conductive n-Type Coordination Complex with Thieno[3,2-b]thiophene Units: Facile Synthesis, Orientation, and Thermoelectric Properties

An organometallic nickel complex containing thieno[3,2-b]thiophene units was designed and synthesized. Composite films of the resulting nickel complex and polyvinylidene difluoride, which can be fabricated via a simple solution process under atmospheric conditions, exhibit remarkably high n-type conductivity (>200 S cm-1). Moreover, the thermoelectric power factor of the n-type composite film was proven to be air stable. A grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray diffraction analysis indicated a significant impact of introducing the thieno[3,2-b]thiophene core into the backbone of the nickel complex on the orientation within the composite films.

Automated summary

This study designed and synthesized an organometallic nickel complex containing thieno[3,2-b]thiophene units. Composite films of the nickel complex and polyvinylidene difluoride, prepared via a simple solution process, exhibited remarkably high n-type conductivity and air stability of the thermoelectric power factor. The introduction of thieno[3,2-b]thiophene core into the backbone of the nickel complex significantly influenced the orientation within the composite films, as indicated by grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray diffraction analysis.