Multi-heterojunctioned plastics with high thermoelectric figure of merit

Dongyang Wang, Jiamin Ding, Yingqiao Ma, Chunlin Xu, Zhiyi Li, Xiao Zhang, Yao Zhao, Yue Zhao, Yuqiu Di, Liyao Liu, Xiaojuan Dai, Ye Zou, BongSoo Kim, Fengjiao Zhang, Zitong Liu, Iain McCulloch, Myeongjae Lee, Cheng Chang, Xiao Yang, Dong Wang, Deqing Zhang, Li-Dong Zhao (), Chong-an Di () and Daoben Zhu
Additional contact information
Dongyang Wang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jiamin Ding: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yingqiao Ma: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chunlin Xu: Tsinghua University
Zhiyi Li: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xiao Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yao Zhao: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yue Zhao: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yuqiu Di: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Liyao Liu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xiaojuan Dai: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Ye Zou: Chinese Academy of Sciences
BongSoo Kim: Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST)
Fengjiao Zhang: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zitong Liu: Lanzhou University
Iain McCulloch: University of Oxford
Myeongjae Lee: Korea University
Cheng Chang: Beihang University
Xiao Yang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Dong Wang: Tsinghua University
Deqing Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Li-Dong Zhao: Beihang University
Chong-an Di: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Daoben Zhu: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature, 2024, vol. 632, issue 8025, 528-535

Abstract: Abstract Conjugated polymers promise inherently flexible and low-cost thermoelectrics for powering the Internet of Things from waste heat1,2. Their valuable applications, however, have been hitherto hindered by the low dimensionless figure of merit (ZT)3–6. Here we report high-ZT thermoelectric plastics, which were achieved by creating a polymeric multi-heterojunction with periodic dual-heterojunction features, where each period is composed of two polymers with a sub-ten-nanometre layered heterojunction structure and an interpenetrating bulk-heterojunction interface. This geometry produces significantly enhanced interfacial phonon-like scattering while maintaining efficient charge transport. We observed a significant suppression of thermal conductivity by over 60 per cent and an enhanced power factor when compared with individual polymers, resulting in a ZT of up to 1.28 at 368 kelvin. This polymeric thermoelectric performance surpasses that of commercial thermoelectric materials and existing flexible thermoelectric candidates. Importantly, we demonstrated the compatibility of the polymeric multi-heterojunction structure with solution coating techniques for satisfying the demand for large-area plastic thermoelectrics, which paves the way for polymeric multi-heterojunctions towards cost-effective wearable thermoelectric technologies.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07724-2

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