Thermoelectric Properties of Organic Polymers
type: CreativeWork
description: Thermoelectric devices present an enticing solution for harnessing waste thermal energy from industrial processes and converting it into electrical power. Due to their cost-effectiveness and potential in flexible electronic applications, organic thermoelectrics have attracted considerable attention. Nonetheless, further enhancing their thermoelectric performance remains a great challenge. Solutions have been proposed, encompassing molecular structure design, uniaxial alignment, and advanced doping techniques. This dissertation explores the relationship between the enhanced thermoelectric properties and the structure of organic polymers. It delves into both innovative new materials systems and established typical materials. First it introduces the background and basic experimental techniques in Chapters 1-2. Then it delves into the function of uniaxial alignment and ion exchange doping to optimize the thermoelectric properties of organic polymers in Chapter 3. Uniaxial alignment achieves anisotropic charge transport by orienting the polymer backbones, which facilitates charge movement along backbones. Ion exchange doping has demonstrated superiority over traditional molecular and electrochemical doping methods, increasing charge carrier densities. By integrating these two techniques, we've observed marked improvements in the thermoelectric attributes of some typical conjugated polymers such as poly[2,5-bis(3-dodecylthiophen-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene] (PBTTT) and diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based polymers. In Chapter 4, we report a new model system for better understanding the key factors governing their thermoelectric properties: aligned, ribbon-phase PBTTT doped by ion-exchange doping. Using a range of microstructural and spectroscopic methods we study the effect of controlled incorporation of tie-chains between the crystalline domains through blending of high and low molecular weight chains. The tie chains provide efficient transport pathways between crystalline d…
abstract: Thermoelectric devices present an enticing solution for harnessing waste thermal energy from industrial processes and converting it into electrical power. Due to their cost-effectiveness and potential in flexible electronic applications, organic thermoelectrics have attracted considerable attention. Nonetheless, further enhancing their thermoelectric performance remains a great challenge. Solutions have been proposed, encompassing molecular structure design, uniaxial alignment, and advanced doping techniques. This dissertation explores the relationship between the enhanced thermoelectric properties and the structure of organic polymers. It delves into both innovative new materials systems and established typical materials. First it introduces the background and basic experimental techniques in Chapters 1-2. Then it delves into the function of uniaxial alignment and ion exchange doping to optimize the thermoelectric properties of organic polymers in Chapter 3. Uniaxial alignment achieves anisotropic charge transport by orienting the polymer backbones, which facilitates charge movement along backbones. Ion exchange doping has demonstrated superiority over traditional molecular and electrochemical doping methods, increasing charge carrier densities. By integrating these two techniques, we've observed marked improvements in the thermoelectric attributes of some typical conjugated polymers such as poly[2,5-bis(3-dodecylthiophen-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene] (PBTTT) and diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-based polymers. In Chapter 4, we report a new model system for better understanding the key factors governing their thermoelectric properties: aligned, ribbon-phase PBTTT doped by ion-exchange doping. Using a range of microstructural and spectroscopic methods we study the effect of controlled incorporation of tie-chains between the crystalline domains through blending of high and low molecular weight chains. The tie chains provide efficient transport pathways between crystalline d…
author: Zhu, Wenjin
language: eng
keywords: charge transport, Organic electronics, polymers
license: https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/689eabca-5320-4bd8-98a2-2fc42e03274e/download
license: https://www.rioxx.net/licenses/all-rights-reserved/
date published: 2024-03-25
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:23:59Z
provider: Cambridge University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Cambridge

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.17863/CAM.107257