Solution processed organic thermoelectric generators as energy harvesters for the Internet of Things

Organic thermoelectric generators (TEGs) are a prospective class of versatile energy-harvesters that can enable the capture of low-grade heat and provide power to the growing number of microelectronic devices and sensors in the Internet of Things. The abundance, low-toxicity, and tunability of organic conducting materials along with the scalability of the fabrication techniques promise to culminate in a safe, low-cost, and adaptable device template for a wide range of applications. Despite recent breakthroughs, it is generally recognized that significant advances in n-type organic thermoelectric materials must be made before organic TEGs can make a real impact. Yet, in this perspective, we make the argument that to accelerate progress in the field of organic TEGs, future research should focus more effort into the design and fabrication of application-oriented devices, even though materials have considerable room for improvement. We provide an overview of the best solution-processable organic thermoelectric materials, design considerations, and fabrication techniques relevant for application-oriented TEGs, followed by our perspective on the insight that can be gained by pushing forward with device-level research despite suboptimal materials.