Thermoelectric properties of electrically conductive polypyrrole film

Abstract

We present thermoelectric properties of films of the electrically conductive organic polymer polypyrrole. Highly electrically conductive polypyrrole films were electrochemically prepared using sodium p-toluenesulfonate as a supporting electrolyte. Thermoelectric properties of the polypyrrole films were systematically investigated over a wide range of temperatures above room temperature. The high electrical conductivity of the polypyrrole films gives a significant advantage of high thermoelectric power factor. In addition polypyrrole films showed extremely low thermal diffusivity, similar to electrically conductive polyaniline films. The maximum ZT of the polypyrrole film, which was calculated using estimated thermal conductivity from the polyaniline films, is 10/sup -2/ at ca. 423 K. The value is comparable with that of the inorganic thermoelectric material FeSi/sub 2/.