Nanoscale electron beam patterning of PEDOT:PSS free-standing films for
enhanced thermoelectric performance
Abstract
The growing demand for flexible, lightweight, and highly processable
electronic devices makes high-functional conducting polymers such as
poly (3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) an
attractive alternative to conventional inorganic materials. However,
considerable improvements are necessary to make conducting polymers a
commercially viable choice. This study explores nanopatterning, as an
effective strategy for enhancing polymer functionality, which results in
substantial improvements in mechanical, thermal, optical, and electrical
properties. Nanopatterned conducting polymers with manipulated
electrical properties can be utilized in various fields, including
thermoelectrics (TE). Introducing nanopatterning into thermoelectric
polymers is challenging due to intricate technical hurdles and the
necessity for individually manipulating the TE parameters such as
electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and thermal conductivity.
Here, enhanced TE performance is achieved by imposing array nanopatterns
on PEDOT:PSS free-standing films using direct electron beam irradiation.
Through nanopatterning, selective and independent control of electric
and thermal transport in PEDOT:PSS was achieved. The e-beam irradiation
transformed PEDOT:PSS from a highly-ordered quinoid to an amorphous
benzoid structure, leading to a remarkable reduction in the thermal
conductivity by 70% of that of the non-patterned PEDOT:PSS, without a
significant reduction in electrical conductivity. Consequently, the
thermoelectric figure of merit was enhanced by 60% compared to
non-patterned PEDOT:PSS. The proposed nanopatterning methodology
demonstrates a skillful approach to precisely manipulate the
thermoelectric parameters, thereby improving the thermoelectric
performance of conducting polymers, and promising utilization in
cutting-edge electronic applications.