Abstract
Electrically conducting organic salts, known for over 60 years, have recently demonstrated new abilities to convert waste heat directly into electrical power via the thermoelectric effect. Multiple opportunities are emerging for new structure–property relationships and for new materials to be obtained through synthetic organic chemistry. This review highlights key aspects of this field, which is complementary to current efforts based on polymeric, nanostructured or inorganic thermoelectric materials and indicates opportunities whereby mainstream organic chemists can contribute.1 What Are Thermoelectrics? And Why Use Them?2 Current Organic and Hybrid Thermoelectrics3 Unique Materials from Tetrathiotetracenes4 Synthesis of Tetrathiotetracenes5 Materials and Device Applications6 Future Perspectives
Highlights
Seebeck noted that suitably combined p and n thermoelectric (TE) materials generate a voltage ( ) when placed between two temperatures: Thot and Tcold.1 Maximising the electrical voltage, current and power, induced down the temperature gradient requires electrical carrier transport to outperform heat energy transport
This review highlights key aspects of this field, which is complimentary to current efforts based on polymeric, nanostructured or inorganic thermoelectric materials and indicates opportunities whereby main stream organic chemists can contribute
Using TE materials for waste heat energy extraction is complicated by the fact that thermal ( ) and electrical ( ) conductivity often scale linearly with each other
Summary
Seebeck (in 1821-2) noted that suitably combined p and n thermoelectric (TE) materials generate a voltage ( ) when placed between two temperatures: Thot and Tcold.1 Maximising the electrical voltage, current and power, induced down the temperature gradient requires electrical carrier transport (via holes or electrons) to outperform heat energy transport (via lattice vibrations). Low temperature waste energy harvesting organic TEs are considered promising due to the potential for new materials discovery via prepared libraries, coupled with effective scale-up, reasonable price and very suitable solution based processes for purification and utilization in devices.
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