Gold Nanoparticle and Gold Nanorod Embedded PEDOT:PSS Thin Films as Organic Thermoelectric Materials

Abstract

We report the thermoelectric properties of organic–inorganic hybrid thin films composed of conductive polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), and inorganic gold nanomaterials. Two kinds of material with different shapes, namely rod-shaped gold nanorods (AuNRs) and spherical gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), were used in this study. The PEDOT:PSS/AuNR hybrid films showed an enhancement in electrical conductivity (σ ≈ 2000 S cm⁻¹) and concurrently a decrease in the Seebeck coefficient (S ≈ 12 μV K⁻¹) with increase in the AuNR concentration. This behavior indicates the presence of the hybrid effect of AuNR on the thermoelectric properties. From scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation of the highly concentrated PEDOT:PSS/AuNR hybrid films, the formation of a percolated structure of AuNRs was confirmed, which probably contributed to the large enhancement in σ. For the highly concentrated PEDOT:PSS/AuNP films, a dense distribution of AuNPs in the film was also observed, but this did not lead to a major change in the σ value, probably due to the less conductive connections between NPs. This suggests that one-dimensional particles with larger aspect ratio (rods and wires) are favorable nanocomponents for development of highly conductive hybrid materials.