Thermoelectric Properties of Conjugated Polymers

Thermoelectric materials can generate an electric potential in response to a thermal gradient, which is known as the Seebeck effect, or generate a thermal gradient in response to an applied potential, known as the Peltier effect. ¹ Current applications for inorganic thermoelectric materials include power generation in remote locations, radioisotope thermoelectric generators for space applications, and specialized cooling devices. ^{2 – 4} The highest performance inorganic materials for thermoelectrics are based on compounds containing relatively rare elements, such as tellurium, however, there are significant efforts to identify new materials. ^{5 , 6}