title: Solution synthesis of telluride-based nano-barbell structures coated with PEDOT:PSS for spray-printed thermoelectric generators.
abstract: Solution-processable telluride-based heterostructures coated with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (Te-Bi2Te3/PEDOT:PSS) were synthesized through a solution-phase reaction at low temperatures. The water-based synthesis yielded
  PSS-coated Te-Bi2Te3 nano-barbell structures with a high Seebeck coefficient that can be stably dispersed in water. These hybrid solutions were deposited onto a substrate by the spray-printing method to prepare thermoelectric generators. The thermoelectric properties of the Te-Bi2Te3/PEDOT:PSS hybrid films were significantly enhanced by a simple acid treatment due to the increased electrical conductivity, and the power factor of those materials can be effectively tuned over a wide range depending on the acid concentration of the treatment. The power factors of the synthesized Te-Bi2Te3/PEDOT:PSS hybrids were optimized to 60.05 μW m(-1) K(-2) with a Seebeck coefficient of 93.63 μV K(-1) and an electrical conductivity of 69.99 S cm(-1). The flexible thermoelectric generator fabricated by spray-printing Te-Bi2Te3/PEDOT:PSS hybrid solutions showed an open-circuit voltage of 1.54 mV with six legs at ΔT = 10 °C. This approach presents the potential for realizing printing-processable hybrid thermoelectric materials for application in flexible thermoelectric generators.
authors.affiliation: Division of Advanced Materials, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea. scho@krict.re.kr.
authors.forename: Eun Jin
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Young Hun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Kwang-Suk
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Changjin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Song Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Cho