Simultaneous improvement of performance and stability in PEDOT:PSS–sorbitol composite based flexible thermoelectric modules by novel design and fabrication process

A flexible thermoelectric (TE) module was fabricated by merging two distinct highly flexible polyethersulfone (PES) substrates having either poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)-D-sorbitol composite as an active layer or thin gold electrodes for interconnection, respectively. Two substrates were well glued together in a general lamination method owing to the sticky nature of sorbitol, without any other adhesives. In addition, the PEDOT:PSS film was thermally annealed and encapsulated simultaneously by the merging process, which can reduce the TE module fabrication steps. The merged module consisting of four uni-legs exhibited a Seebeck voltage of 40.7 µV/K, which were higher than the values of the TE modules prepared using a well-known additives such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or etheylene glycol (EG) (∼30–40 µV/K). [Figure not available: see fulltext.].