Optimised power harvesting by controlling the pressure applied to molecular junctions
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
A major potential advantage of creating thermoelectric devices using self-assembled molecular layers is their mechanical flexibility. Previous reports have discussed the advantage of this flexibility from the perspective of facile skin attachment and the ability to avoid mechanical deformation. In this work, we demonstrate that the thermoelectric properties of such molecular devices can be controlled by taking advantage of their mechanical flexibility. The thermoelectric properties of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) fabricated from thiol terminated molecules were measured with a modified AFM system, and the conformation of the SAMs was controlled by regulating the loading force between the organic thin film and the probe, which changes the tilt angle at the metal-molecule interface. We tracked the thermopower shift vs. the tilt angle of the SAM and showed that changes in both the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient combine to optimize the power factor at a specific angle. This optimization of thermoelectric performance via applied pressure is confirmed through the use of theoretical calculations and is expected to be a general method for optimising the power factor of SAMs.
Date Issued
2021-04-14
Date Acceptance
2021-02-22
Citation
Chemical Science, 2021, 12 (14), pp.5230-5235
ISSN
2041-6520
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
Start Page
5230
End Page
5235
Journal / Book Title
Chemical Science
Volume
12
Issue
14
Copyright Statement
© 2021 The Author(s). Published by the Royal Society of Chemistry. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence.
License URL
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (E
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000640322400024&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
EP/N032977/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chemistry
SELF-ASSEMBLED MONOLAYERS
SCALE THERMOELECTRICITY
ELECTRICAL CONDUCTANCE
QUANTUM INTERFERENCE
TRANSPORT
SURFACE
THERMOPOWER
AU(111)
ENERGY
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2021-03-04