KAUST solvent picker supercharges organic thermoelectric films by 20×

Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have developed a data-driven "solvent selector" tool that identifies the optimal solvent to enhance the performance of organic thermoelectric devices (OTEs), which convert waste heat into electricity. Their model, based on molecular-force-driven anisotropy (MFDA), predicts how solvents influence the alignment of polymer chains during film formation—a critical factor for maximizing electrical conductivity. By screening over 10,000 solvents, the tool identified chlorobenzene as the best solvent, enabling a twentyfold increase in device output compared to the industry-standard ortho-dichlorobenzene, without requiring additional processing steps. This breakthrough offers a low-cost, scalable approach to improving organic thermoelectrics, which use solution-processable polymers instead of expensive inorganic crystals. The improved polymer alignment facilitates efficient charge transport, unlocking significant performance gains. Beyond thermoelectrics, the researchers suggest that the MFDA framework can guide solvent selection to optimize other organic electronic