PANI-mediated interfacial modulation enables high-performance freestanding PEDOT/1T-MoS2@PANI composite films

PEDOT-based flexible thermoelectric films are promising for wearable energy harvesting, but their performance is often limited by the low Seebeck coefficient of PEDOT and insufficient interfacial transport regulation in organic/inorganic composites. Herein, freestanding PEDOT/1T-MoS 2 @PANI composite films were fabricated through hydrothermal synthesis, in situ polymerization, and vacuum-assisted filtration. The intermediate PANI layer improved the dispersion of MoS 2 nanosheets and enhanced their interfacial coupling with PEDOT, promoting charge transport and energy-dependent carrier filtering. Subsequent NH 4 OH treatment enabled partial dedoping of PANI and further optimized the balance between electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient, yielding a maximum power factor of 204.2 μW m −1 K −2 . The optimized films also exhibited good mechanical flexibility and environmental stability. A flexible thermoelectric generator based on the composite film generated an open-circuit voltage of 0.46 mV during on-body heat harvesting and achieved a maximum power density of 1.217 W m −2 at ΔT = 28.2 K. PANI-mediated interfacial modulation therefore provides an effective strategy for regulating carrier transport and enhancing the performance of PEDOT-based flexible thermoelectric materials.