Flexible thermoelectric power generators fabricated using graphene/PEDOT:PSS nanocomposite films

Graphene/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (GR/PP) composite films were successfully fabricated by a vacuum assisted filtration method on a nylon membrane. The GR/PP nanocomposite films show stable thermoelectric (TE) properties from 300 to 380 K. Flexible thermoelectric generators (TEGs) with different numbers of GR/PP strips from 1 to 5 units were fabricated. The output voltage of 4.0 mV and maximum output power of 30.9 nW were obtained for the 5-unit flexible TEG at a temperature difference of 55.9 K. The results show the fabrication of a flexible GR/PP composite film system which is envisioned to be useful in flexible thermoelectric applications for thermal energy harvestation.