Sequential doping and dedoping increased the conductivity and optimized the oxidation level of transparent and flexible poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4-styrene sulfonic acid) (PEDOT:PSS) films, resulting in an improvement in the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT. The electrical conductivity (σ) increased from 970 to 1260 S cm−1 and the power factor from 66.5 to 70.7 μW mK−2 at the optimum concentration of the chemical dopant p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate (TSA). Then, the doped PEDOT:PSS films were treated with hydrazine/DMSO solutions with different hydrazine concentrations to precisely control the oxidation level. During the hydrazine/DMSO treatment (dedoping), σ of the films continuously decreased from 1647 to 783 S cm−1 due to a decrease in the carrier concentration, whereas the Seebeck coefficient (S) steeply increased from 28 to 49.3 μV K−1 at the optimum oxidation level. A power factor of 318.4 μW mK−2 (σ = 1310 S cm−1, S = 49.3 μV K−1), the highest among all existing thermoelectric nanofilms, was achieved while maintaining polymer film flexibility and transparency (88.3% of optical transmittance). In addition, the thermal conductivity (κ) of the PEDOT:PSS films decreased from 0.38 to 0.30 W mK−1 upon removal of PSS. At the lowest κ value, a high ZT value of 0.31 was achieved at room temperature.
Graphene is an excellent 2D material that has extraordinary properties such as high surface area, electron mobility, conductivity, and high light transmission. Polymer composites are used in many applications in place of polymers. In recent years, the development of stable graphene dispersions with high graphene concentrations has attracted great attention due to their applications in energy, bio-fields, and so forth. Thus, this review essentially discusses the preparation of stable graphene–polymer composites/dispersions. Discussion on existing methods of preparing graphene is included with their merits and demerits. Among existing methods, mechanical exfoliation is widely used for the preparation of stable graphene dispersion, the theoretical background of this method is discussed briefly. Solvents, surfactants, and polymers that are used for dispersing graphene and the factors to be considered while preparing stable graphene dispersions are discussed in detail. Further, the direct applications of stable graphene dispersions are discussed briefly. Finally, a summary and prospects for the development of stable graphene dispersions are proposed.
7 May 2010 in Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering