Doping and processing of organic semiconductors for plastic thermoelectrics

• Thermoelectrics currently attracts considerable attention as a promising branch in the field of organic electronics, with the prospect that organic semiconductors (OSCs) allow the development of light, flexible, and inexpensive thermoelectric devices, which act as alternative power sources, generating electricity from heat gradients. Thermoelectric generators are solid-state devices that convert heat directly to electricity. They do not contain any moving parts and are able to operate over an extended period of time, and furthermore can function with small heat sources and limited temperature differences, which facilitates their use in situations where traditional engines are not feasible. The absence of moving parts, low need for maintenance, and a large variety of possible device architectures render organic thermoelectrics attractive for numerous applications, ranging from waste heat recovery to wearable textiles. In this chapter, we give a short introduction to the fundamentals of the thermoelectric effect, as well as to the design principles for thermoelectric generators and their characterization. Furthermore, we discuss the role of doping (i.e., the introduction of charge carriers through the addition of dopant molecules) and of the nanostructure and present strategies for the optimization of the thermoelectric properties of OSCs. Finally, we give an overview of processing methods and point out major achievements, as well as the remaining challenges.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Maskinteknik -- Energiteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Mechanical Engineering -- Energy Engineering (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Annan fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Other Physics Topics (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Elektroteknik och elektronik -- Annan elektroteknik och elektronik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering -- Other Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Thermal conductivity

Doping

Electronic textile

Conducting polymer

Seebeck coefficient

Bulk processing

Foam

Organic thermoelectrics

Anisotropy

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