Integrated Materials Design and Process Engineering for n-Type Polymer Thermoelectrics

Polymer thermoelectrics (TEs) have attracted increasing interest in recent years, owing to their great potential in intimate integration with wearable electronics for powering small electronics/sensors and personal temperature regulation. Over the past few decades, substantial progress has been made in enhancing polymer TE performance. However, the electrical conductivity and power factor of most n-doped polymers are about an order of magnitude lower than those of their p-type counterparts, impeding the development of highly efficient polymer TE devices. In addition, unlike well-studied inorganic materials, the complex charge transport mechanism and polymer–dopant interactions in polymer TE materials have hindered a comprehensive understanding of the structure–property relationships. This Perspective aims to survey recent achievements in understanding the charge transport mechanism and selectively provide some critical insights into molecular design and process engineering for n-type polymer TEs. We also highlight the great potential of polymer TEs in wearable electronics and offer an outlook for future development.