DataVXACS Energy LettersPaper
journal article·2025-04-11Open access

Realizing an N-Type Organic Thermoelectric ZT of 0.46

Mingyu Ma, Gang Ye, Soyeong Jang, Yazhuo Kuang, Linlong Zhang, Shuyan Shao, L. Jan Anton Koster, Derya Baran, Jian Liu

ACS Energy Letters· Volume 10· Issue 4
Publisher pageOpen full text
Source abstract

Abstract

The performance of n-type organic thermoelectric materials is significantly limited by a lack of a deep understanding of the structure–property relationship. In this study, we aim to establish a connection between the molecular structure and the density of states (DOS) profile related to thermoelectric performance. We synthesized three new diketopyrrolopyrrole-based polymers, each functionalized with amphipathic side chains. The only difference among these polymers is the number of sp 2 -N substitutions. Our findings indicate that as the number of substitutions increases, the DOS profile widens and intensifies, creating new peaks that extend toward the bandgap. This enables more efficient doping and coherent charge transport. Consequently, we achieved a high electrical conductivity of 63.8 S cm –1, a power factor of 111.8 μW m –1 K –2, and a ZT of 0.46, representing a significant advancement in n-type organic thermoelectrics. This work provides valuable guidelines for designing high-performance thermoelectric materials by rationally tailoring the DOS profile.
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline

Research context

Polymers

OpenAlex topics: Advanced Thermoelectric Materials and Devices · Organic Electronics and Photovoltaics · Transition Metal Oxide Nanomaterials

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

State Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Technology

Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences

School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering

University of Science and Technology of China

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Physical Science and Engineering Division (PSE), KAUST Solar Center (KSC)

Institute of Molecular Aggregation Science

Tianjin University

Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, NL-9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands

Funding

State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry · China Postdoctoral Science Foundation · Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences · Jilin Provincial Scientific and Technological Development Program · National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars · National Natural Science Foundation of China

References (60)

Show source-provided references
1. 10.1002/pssa.20122831010.1002/pssa.201228310 ↗
2. 10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.03550210.1103/PhysRevLett.108.035502 ↗
3. 10.1103/PhysRevB.87.11520910.1103/PhysRevB.87.115209 ↗
4. 10.1021/acs.accounts.5b0043810.1021/acs.accounts.5b00438 ↗
5. 10.1002/adma.20160373110.1002/adma.201603731 ↗
6. 10.1039/D1TC04038C10.1039/D1TC04038C ↗
7. 10.1016/j.joule.2018.10.01210.1016/j.joule.2018.10.012 ↗
8. 10.3390/ma709670110.3390/ma7096701 ↗
9. 10.1002/adfm.20140454910.1002/adfm.201404549 ↗
10. 10.1063/5.008082010.1063/5.0080820 ↗
11. 10.31635/ccschem.021.20210116710.31635/ccschem.021.202101167 ↗
12. 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c0058110.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00581 ↗
13. 10.1002/anie.20191105810.1002/anie.201911058 ↗
14. 10.1038/s41586-024-07724-210.1038/s41586-024-07724-2 ↗
15. 10.1038/nmat301210.1038/nmat3012 ↗
16. 10.1002/aenm.20160211610.1002/aenm.201602116 ↗
17. 10.1021/acs.chemmater.9b0142210.1021/acs.chemmater.9b01422 ↗
18. 10.1002/aelm.20180082510.1002/aelm.201800825 ↗
19. 10.1016/j.joule.2023.09.00210.1016/j.joule.2023.09.002 ↗
20. 10.1021/jacs.0c1160810.1021/jacs.0c11608 ↗
21. 10.1038/s41586-022-05295-810.1038/s41586-022-05295-8 ↗
22. 10.1002/anie.20210512710.1002/anie.202105127 ↗
23. 10.1002/adma.20230967910.1002/adma.202309679 ↗
24. 10.1021/acsami.3c1060110.1021/acsami.3c10601 ↗
25. 10.1021/acsmacrolett.8b0077810.1021/acsmacrolett.8b00778 ↗
26. 10.1021/jacs.5b0094510.1021/jacs.5b00945 ↗
27. 10.1002/adma.20170463010.1002/adma.201704630 ↗
28. 10.1039/D3TA07188J10.1039/D3TA07188J ↗
29. 10.1021/acs.macromol.4c0083710.1021/acs.macromol.4c00837 ↗
30. 10.1002/adma.20200669410.1002/adma.202006694 ↗
31. 10.1002/adma.20190388210.1002/adma.201903882 ↗
32. 10.1021/acsami.6b0696710.1021/acsami.6b06967 ↗
33. 10.1039/C7TC00044H10.1039/C7TC00044H ↗
34. 10.3390/molecules2306127010.3390/molecules23061270 ↗
35. 10.1038/srep4470410.1038/srep44704 ↗
36. 10.1021/acs.chemmater.7b0351610.1021/acs.chemmater.7b03516 ↗
37. 10.1002/adma.20180285010.1002/adma.201802850 ↗
38. 10.1021/jacs.9b1010710.1021/jacs.9b10107 ↗
39. 10.1002/anie.20221926210.1002/anie.202219262 ↗
40. 10.1002/anie.20240237510.1002/anie.202402375 ↗
41. 10.1002/anie.20231965810.1002/anie.202319658 ↗
42. 10.1002/aenm.20140107210.1002/aenm.201401072 ↗
43. 10.1038/nmat478410.1038/nmat4784 ↗
44. 10.1103/PhysRevB.96.24120210.1103/PhysRevB.96.241202 ↗
45. 10.1038/s41563-021-01008-010.1038/s41563-021-01008-0 ↗
46. 10.1002/adma.20180429010.1002/adma.201804290 ↗
47. 10.1002/adma.20230063410.1002/adma.202300634 ↗
48. 10.1002/pol.2021049310.1002/pol.20210493 ↗
49. 10.1038/s41467-022-29918-w10.1038/s41467-022-29918-w ↗
50. 10.1021/nl502982f10.1021/nl502982f ↗
51. 10.1103/PhysRevLett.93.16660110.1103/PhysRevLett.93.166601 ↗
52. 10.1002/adfm.20190980510.1002/adfm.201909805 ↗
53. 10.1002/adma.20240439710.1002/adma.202404397 ↗
54. 10.1063/1.500580710.1063/1.5005807 ↗
55. 10.1002/adfm.20231254910.1002/adfm.202312549 ↗
56. 10.1038/nmat463410.1038/nmat4634 ↗
57. 10.1063/1.114099010.1063/1.1140990 ↗
58. 10.1038/srep2365010.1038/srep23650 ↗
59. 10.1103/PhysRevB.19.208310.1103/PhysRevB.19.2083 ↗
60. 10.1103/PhysRevB.72.23520210.1103/PhysRevB.72.235202 ↗