Optimization of the thermoelectric properties of poly[Cux(Cu-ethylenetetrathiolate)]

•The thermoelectric properties of poly [Cux(Cu-ethylenetetrathiolate)] were investigated.•The thermoelectric properties of the polymer were optimized by a simple method.•The relative content of the high oxidation state and low oxidation state sulfur atoms is a key factor.

Poly[Cux(Cu-ethylenetetrathiolate)] was synthesized, and its thermoelectric (TE) properties were optimized using chemical oxidation and reduction. Both X-ray absorption fine structure and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques were used to characterize the polymers. The best TE properties were achieved with a PF of 26.0 μW m−1 K−2 and a ZT of 0.019 at 360 K.

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