Thermoelectric Properties of Solution-Processed n-Doped Ladder-Type Conducting Polymers

Ladder-type “torsion-free” conducting polymers (e.g., polybenzimidazobenzophenanthroline (BBL)) can outperform “structurally distorted” donor–acceptor polymers (e.g., P(NDI2OD-T2)), in terms of conductivity and thermoelectric power factor. The polaron delocalization length is larger in BBL than in P(NDI2OD-T2), resulting in a higher measured polaron mobility. Structure–function relationships are drawn, setting material-design guidelines for the next generation of conducting thermoelectric polymers. <img src="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/store/10.1002/adma.201603731/asset/image_n/adma201603731-gra-0001.png?v=1&s=5b8b2d2f4f5f7a1985f5c02ced579d41694e2cf0" />
Funded by:Knut and Alice Wallenberg FoundationSwedish Foundation for Strategic ResearchSwedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems - VINNOVA. Grant Number: 2015-04859Advanced Functional Materials Center at Linköping University. Grant Number: 2009-00971Alexander von Humboldt Foundation