Thermoelectric properties of boron nitride aerogels/PEDOT: PSS composite films

Boron Nitride Aerogels/PEDOT: PSS composite film with good thermoelectric properties were prepared by a simple preparation process. Boron nitride aerogels with a width of less than 1 μm and thickness of approximately 15 nm were prepared by a combination of freeze-drying and high-temperature tubular furnace heating. Then, boron nitride aerogels material was impregnated in a certain amount of 3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene monomer polymer: polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT: PSS) solution by ultrasonic vibration and magnetic stirring to produce a composite film. The output voltage of the flexible Boron Nitride Aerogels/PEDOT: PSS/Au piezoelectric sensor increases with an increase in the bending angle. When the bending angle is greater than 90°, the output voltage reaches 4.03 V. For the sake of broaden the application prospect of nanocomposite films, flexible wearable thermoelectric devices were prepared. Using the human body as a heat source, the output voltage of flexible thin-film thermoelectric devices can reach 233.6 mV. According to the formula calculation, the Seebeck coefficient is 18.54 mV/K and the thermoelectric power factor is 28.86 μW/mK². With improvements in the energy collection capacity of wearable energy devices, we believe that more work will be done in the future to realize the coordinated development of functionality, comfort and health on the basis of improving energy conversion efficiency.