Wet-spinning and post-treatment of CNT/PEDOT:PSS composites for use in organic fiber-based thermoelectric generators

Abstract

Carbon nanotube (CNT)/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) composite fibers with the CNT content ranging from 10 to 50 wt% were prepared by a wet-spinning process using a common solvent/coagulation system for application to organic fiber-based thermoelectric generators. After post-treatments, such as immersion in hydrazine solutions and polyethyleneimine-infiltration, the thermoelectric properties of the CNT/PEDOT: PSS composite fibers were optimized, with p- and n-type power factors of 83.2 +/- 6.4 and 113 +/- 25 mu Wm(-1) K-2, respectively. The electrical power generation capability of an organic fiber-based thermoelectric generator assembled with the p- and n-type CNT/PEDOT:PSS composite fibers was confirmed.