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Title: Ultrahigh thermoelectric power factor in flexible hybrid inorganic-organic superlattice

Abstract

Hybrid inorganic–organic superlattice with an electron-transmitting but phonon-blocking structure has emerged as a promising flexible thin film thermoelectric material. However, the substantial challenge in optimizing carrier concentration without disrupting the superlattice structure prevents further improvement of the thermoelectric performance. Here we demonstrate a strategy for carrier optimization in a hybrid inorganic–organic superlattice of TiS2[tetrabutylammonium] x [hexylammonium] y, where the organic layers are composed of a random mixture of tetrabutylammonium and hexylammonium molecules. By vacuum heating the hybrid materials at an intermediate temperature, the hexylammonium molecules with a lower boiling point are selectively de-intercalated, which reduces the electron density due to the requirement of electroneutrality. The tetrabutylammonium molecules with a higher boiling point remain to support and stabilize the superlattice structure. Furthermore, the carrier concentration can thus be effectively reduced, resulting in a remarkably high power factor of 904 µW m–1 K–2 at 300 K for flexible thermoelectrics, approaching the values achieved in conventional inorganic semiconductors.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [1];  [2]
  1. Tsinghua Univ., Beijing (China)
  2. Toyota Physical and Chemical Research Institute, Nagakute (Japan)
  3. Nagoya Univ., Nagoya (Japan)
  4. Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States); National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1406989
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5500-70434
Journal ID: ISSN 2041-1723
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC36-08GO28308
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Nature Communications
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 8; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher:
Nature Publishing Group
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
14 SOLAR ENERGY; 77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY; organic-inorganic nanostructures; thermoelectrics; two-dimensional materials

Citation Formats

Wan, Chunlei, Tian, Ruoming, Kondou, Mami, Yang, Ronggui, Zong, Pengan, and Koumoto, Kunihito. Ultrahigh thermoelectric power factor in flexible hybrid inorganic-organic superlattice. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1038/s41467-017-01149-4.
Wan, Chunlei, Tian, Ruoming, Kondou, Mami, Yang, Ronggui, Zong, Pengan, & Koumoto, Kunihito. Ultrahigh thermoelectric power factor in flexible hybrid inorganic-organic superlattice. United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-01149-4
Wan, Chunlei, Tian, Ruoming, Kondou, Mami, Yang, Ronggui, Zong, Pengan, and Koumoto, Kunihito. Wed . "Ultrahigh thermoelectric power factor in flexible hybrid inorganic-organic superlattice". United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-01149-4. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1406989.
@article{osti_1406989,
title = {Ultrahigh thermoelectric power factor in flexible hybrid inorganic-organic superlattice},
author = {Wan, Chunlei and Tian, Ruoming and Kondou, Mami and Yang, Ronggui and Zong, Pengan and Koumoto, Kunihito},
abstractNote = {Hybrid inorganic–organic superlattice with an electron-transmitting but phonon-blocking structure has emerged as a promising flexible thin film thermoelectric material. However, the substantial challenge in optimizing carrier concentration without disrupting the superlattice structure prevents further improvement of the thermoelectric performance. Here we demonstrate a strategy for carrier optimization in a hybrid inorganic–organic superlattice of TiS2[tetrabutylammonium] x [hexylammonium] y, where the organic layers are composed of a random mixture of tetrabutylammonium and hexylammonium molecules. By vacuum heating the hybrid materials at an intermediate temperature, the hexylammonium molecules with a lower boiling point are selectively de-intercalated, which reduces the electron density due to the requirement of electroneutrality. The tetrabutylammonium molecules with a higher boiling point remain to support and stabilize the superlattice structure. Furthermore, the carrier concentration can thus be effectively reduced, resulting in a remarkably high power factor of 904 µW m–1 K–2 at 300 K for flexible thermoelectrics, approaching the values achieved in conventional inorganic semiconductors.},
doi = {10.1038/s41467-017-01149-4},
journal = {Nature Communications},
number = 1,
volume = 8,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Oct 18 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Wed Oct 18 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}

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