Precise synthesis of copper selenide nanowires with tailored Cu vacancies through photo-induced reduction for thermoelectric applications.

Nanostructuring in α-CuSe while optimizing carrier concentration holds the promise of realizing further high thermoelectric performance at near room temperature. Nevertheless, controlling the amounts of Cu vacancies, which work as acceptors, in nanostructures is considerably more intricate than in bulk materials. Hence, controlling the amounts of Cu vacancies while maintaining the α-phase and nanostructure shape poses a formidable challenge.

Thermoelectric Properties of PEDOT:PSS Containing Connected Copper Selenide Nanowires Synthesized by the Photoreduction Method.

Organic materials have attracted attention for thermoelectric materials reusing low-temperature waste heat. For the thermoelectric performance enhancement of organic materials, the introduction of inorganic nanowires is effective due to the percolation effect. In this study, we synthesized CuSe NWs by the photoreduction method and prepared poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly (styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) thin films containing CuSe NWs by spin-coating PEDOT:PSS and CuSe NWs alternatively.