Noncovalent Modification of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Using Thermally Cleavable Polythiophenes for Solution-Processed Thermoelectric Films

Four thermally cleavable polythiophene derivatives containing carbonate and solubilizing groups were synthesized for noncovalent modification of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). A well-dispersed polythiophene/SWCNTs composite was obtained by adsorption of the polymer at the SWCNT surface. The solution-processed composite film exhibited solid-state thermal cleavage of the insulating solubilizing group through decarboxylation, producing an insoluble composite film. The thermally cleavable composite film was evaluated for potential application as a thermoelectric (TE) material. The electrical conductivity (sigma) of the thermally treated composite film was up to 250 times higher than that of the as-prepared composite film. The increased sigma contributed to an increase in the power factor (PF). The ethanol-processed composite film could be applicable for green processing of a TE material using the less-toxic solvent. The substrate-free polythiophene/SWCNTs composite film prepared by simple solvent evaporation yielded a figure-of-merit of 3.1 X 10(-2) with a PF of 28.8 mu W m(-1) K-2 at 25 degrees C. This solution-processed methodology is beneficial for the development of a flexible TE material.