Synthesis 2018; 50(19): 3833-3842
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1610208
short review
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Capturing Waste Heat Energy with Charge-Transfer Organic Thermoelectrics

Vladimir Dimitrov*
a   Laboratory of Organic Synthesis and Stereochemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev, Build. 9, Sofia 1113, Bulgaria   Email: vdim@orgchm.bas.bg
,
Simon Woodward*
b   GSK Carbon Neutral Laboratories for Sustainable Chemistry, Jubilee Campus, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2TU, United Kingdom   Email: simon.woodward@nottingham.ac.uk
› Author Affiliations

Work by the authors in the TTT area was initiated under funding from the European Union’s Seventh Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No 308768.
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 05 May 2018

Accepted: 07 June 2018

Publication Date:
12 July 2018 (online)


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Abstract

Electrically conducting organic salts, known for over 60 years, have recently demonstrated new abilities to convert waste heat directly into electrical power via the thermoelectric effect. Multiple opportunities are emerging for new structure–property relationships and for new materials to be obtained through synthetic organic chemistry. This review highlights key aspects of this field, which is complementary to current efforts based on polymeric, nanostructured or inorganic thermoelectric materials and indicates opportunities whereby mainstream organic chemists can contribute.

1 What Are Thermoelectrics? And Why Use Them?

2 Current Organic and Hybrid Thermoelectrics

3 Unique Materials from Tetrathiotetracenes

4 Synthesis of Tetrathiotetracenes

5 Materials and Device Applications

6 Future Perspectives