Innovative Cu-based polymers to recover dissipated heat at low-temperature

Thermoelectric (TE) materials enable the direct conversion of heat into electricity through the Seebeck effect. Given that approximately 70% of consumed energy is dissipated as low-temperature heat (<200 °C), the development of TE materials is crucial for reducing our carbon footprint.1 Most TE materials are inorganic (such as Bi2Te3); however, they come with significant drawbacks including high thermal conductivity, high fabrication temperatures, high cost, scarcity, brittleness, and toxicity. Recently, coordination polymers such as poly[Kx(Ni-ett)] have emerged as encouraging TE materials for low-temperature energy harvesting.2 Different materials can be produced by substituting the metal center or the organic ligand. As a result, nickel has been replaced with the greener and less toxic copper to develop innovative thermoelectric materials. Different polymers have been synthesized, processed as dispersion, and deposited as thin-film. Finally, chemical and electrical characterizations have been performed, showing promising properties for applications in low-temperature heat harvesting. References: [1] F. Yuan, et al., Small. 2021, 17, 2100505. [2] S. Yuanhui, et al., Advanced Materials. 2016, 28, 3351–3358.