Direct synthesis of highly conductive poly(3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS)/graphene composites and their applications in energy harvesting systems

We report for the first time highly conductive poly(3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS)/graphene composites fabricated by in situ polymerization and their applications in a thermoelectric device and a platinum (Pt)-free dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) as energy harvesting systems. Graphene was dispersed in a solution of poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) and polymerization was directly carried out by addition of 3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) monomer to the dispersion. The content of the graphene was varied and optimized to give the highest electrical conductivity. The composite solution was ready to use without any reduction process because reduced graphene oxide was used. The fabricated film had a conductivity of 637 S·cm^-1, corresponding to an enhancement of 41%, after the introduction of 3 wt.% graphene without any further complicated reduction processes of graphene being required. The highly conductive composite films were employed in an organic thermoelectric device, and the device showed a power factor of 45.7 μW·m^-1K^-2 which is 93% higher than a device based on pristine PEDOT: PSS. In addition, the highly conductive composite films were used in Pt-free DSSCs, showing an energy conversion efficiency of 5.4%, which is 21% higher than that of a DSSC based on PEDOT: PSS.