Enhancing the thermoelectric properties of PEDOT:PSS films through the incorporation of g-C3N4 nanosheets and carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Present study focuses on the synthesis of flexible nanocomposite film made of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) nanosheets, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and how the g-C₃N₄ nanosheets and CNTs affect the thermoelectric properties of PEDOT:PSS. Incorporating 10 wt% of g-C₃N₄ nanosheets to PEDOT:PSS improved the Seebeck coefficient to 74.3 μVK⁻¹, ∼5 times higher than the PEDOT:PSS film. However, this led to a decrease in electrical conductivity, limiting the power factor to 335.4 μWm⁻¹K⁻². In order to address this, CNTs were added as conductive fillers. The resulting PEDOT:PSS composite, with 10 wt% of g-C₃N₄ and 10 wt% CNTs, showed a significant power factor of 589.8 μWm⁻¹K⁻², an electrical conductivity of 810.6 Scm⁻¹, and a Seebeck coefficient of 84.5 μVK⁻¹, indicating a substantial improvement in the thermoelectric performance of pristine PEDOT:PSS. The increased Seebeck coefficient in the PEDOT:PSS and g-C₃N₄ composite is due to reduced carrier concentration and energy filtering at the interfaces. The enhancement in electrical conductivity and the Seebeck coefficient after adding CNTs is attributed to the formation of conductive networks, increased mobility, and energy filtering at the interfaces between PEDOT:PSS and CNTs. The study suggests that combining g-C₃N₄ nanosheets and CNTs with PEDOT:PSS could enhance the thermoelectric performance of PEDOT:PSS-based materials.