Highly Conductive and Robust Crosslinker-free PEDOT:PSS(Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)) Aerogel for Thermoelectric Application

Abstract

Aerogels have a wide range of various applications such as thermal insulation, mechanical damping, construction, medicine and catalyst support, due to their excellent properties such as low thermal conductivity, transparency, flexibility, ultralow density, high energy absorbability. These advantages make it possible to apply conductive polymers with the advantages of electrical properties to energy storage and harvesting systems, biomaterials, thermoelectric materials, and so on. However, general CPs have a relatively low physical property than commercial polymer. Thereby, 3D structures are manufactured using several crosslinking agents and cellulose polymers to increase of lower mechanical properties. Herein, we prepared a pure conductive aerogel using PEDOT: PSS without other additives and confirmed electrical and mechanical properties. In addition, as the post-treatment using sulfuric acid was conducted to confirm the changed characteristics, the possibility of application as thermoelectric material was confirmed.