Polymer-Based n-Type Yarn for Organic Thermoelectric Textiles
Journal article, 2023

A conjugated-polymer-based n-type yarn for thermoelectric textiles is presented. Thermoelectric textile devices are intriguing power sources for wearable electronic devices. The use of yarns comprising conjugated polymers is desirable because of their potentially superior mechanical properties compared to other thermoelectric materials. While several examples of p-type conducting yarns exist, there is a lack of polymer-based n-type yarns. Here, a regenerated cellulose yarn is spray-coated with an n-type conducting-polymer-based ink composed of poly(benzimidazobenzophenanthroline) (BBL) and poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI). The n-type yarns display a bulk electrical conductivity of 8 × 10−3 S cm−1 and Seebeck coefficient of −79 µV K−1. A promising level of air-stability for at least 13 days can be achieved by applying an additional thermoplastic elastomer coating. A prototype in-plane thermoelectric textile, produced with the developed n-type yarns and p-type yarns, composed of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)-coated regenerated cellulose, displays a stable device performance in air for at least 4 days with an open-circuit voltage per temperature difference of 1 mV °C−1. Evidently, polymer-based n-type yarns are a viable component for the construction of thermoelectric textile devices.

poly(benzimidazobenzophenanthroline) (BBL)

electrically conducting regenerated cellulose yarn

thermoelectric textile devices

organic thermoelectrics

electronic textiles (e-textiles)

Author

Sozan Darabi

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Chi Yuan Yang

n-Ink AB

Linköping University

Zerui Li

Sichuan University

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Jun Da Huang

Linköping University

Michael Hummel

Aalto University

Herbert Sixta

Aalto University

S. Fabiano

n-Ink AB

Linköping University

Christian Müller

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Advanced Electronic Materials

2199-160X (ISSN) 2199160x (eISSN)

Vol. 9 4 2201235

Subject Categories

Polymer Chemistry

Textile, Rubber and Polymeric Materials

Materials Chemistry

DOI

10.1002/aelm.202201235

More information

Latest update

3/7/2024 9