Ultrahigh thermoelectric power factor in flexible hybrid inorganic-organic superlattice

Chunlei Wan (), Ruoming Tian, Mami Kondou, Ronggui Yang, Pengan Zong and Kunihito Koumoto
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Chunlei Wan: Tsinghua University
Ruoming Tian: Toyota Physical and Chemical Research Institute
Mami Kondou: Nagoya University
Ronggui Yang: University of Colorado
Pengan Zong: Tsinghua University
Kunihito Koumoto: Toyota Physical and Chemical Research Institute

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Hybrid inorganic–organic superlattice with an electron-transmitting but phonon-blocking structure has emerged as a promising flexible thin film thermoelectric material. However, the substantial challenge in optimizing carrier concentration without disrupting the superlattice structure prevents further improvement of the thermoelectric performance. Here we demonstrate a strategy for carrier optimization in a hybrid inorganic–organic superlattice of TiS2[tetrabutylammonium] x [hexylammonium] y , where the organic layers are composed of a random mixture of tetrabutylammonium and hexylammonium molecules. By vacuum heating the hybrid materials at an intermediate temperature, the hexylammonium molecules with a lower boiling point are selectively de-intercalated, which reduces the electron density due to the requirement of electroneutrality. The tetrabutylammonium molecules with a higher boiling point remain to support and stabilize the superlattice structure. The carrier concentration can thus be effectively reduced, resulting in a remarkably high power factor of 904 µW m−1 K−2 at 300 K for flexible thermoelectrics, approaching the values achieved in conventional inorganic semiconductors.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01149-4

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