Materials | Interview with the Issue Cover Author—Dr. Hideki Arimatsu

Dr. Hideki Arimatsu is one of the authors of the Cover Paper featured in Volume 18, Issue 3, entitled “Dual Roles of PTSA in Electrical Conductivity of PEDOT:PTSA with Large Seebeck Coefficient”, published in Materials (ISSN: 1996-1944).

Author’s Introduction
Dr. Hideki Arimatsu earned his Ph.D. in engineering from Tokyo City University in Japan. His primary research areas include functional materials and their applied properties. Currently, he is focused on developing materials for the social implementation of organic thermoelectric conversion materials.

Based on the positive evaluations from the reviewers and Academic Editors of Mr. Arimatsu’s group’s article, we have selected their article as the Issue Cover for display on the Materials website.

The following is an interview with Mr. Hideki Arimatsu:

1. Congratulations on your published paper! Could you please briefly introduce the main research content of the published paper?
I express our gratitude for this valuable opportunity. This paper forms part of a research initiative aimed at enhancing the performance of organic thermoelectric conversion materials, specifically those based on the conductive polymer PEDOT. The study concentrates on a novel material comprising PEDOT:PTSA supported on felt fibers. Organic thermoelectric conversion materials are anticipated to be integrated into flexible devices, such as wearable technology; however, they have not yet attained the performance levels necessary for practical application and are currently the focus of extensive global research. The material under investigation has been shown to exhibit both high electrical conductivity and positive and negative Seebeck coefficients reaching several mV/K. Although the high Seebeck coefficient of PEDOT:PTSA was predicted through theoretical calculations, the mechanisms underlying this distinctive property—including the electrical conduction mechanism —remain experimentally unresolved. The relationship between PTSA concentration and the thermoelectric properties of felt-supported PEDOT:PTSA, as elucidated in this paper, is expected to contribute to the practical application of organic thermoelectric conversion materials and their future societal implementation.

2. What are the key takeaways you hope readers will gain from your paper?
A significant accomplishment of this study is the demonstration that it is feasible to sustain a Seebeck coefficient of several mV/K while simultaneously enhancing the electrical conductivity of PEDOT-based thermoelectric conversion materials by several orders of magnitude. This finding represents an uncommon trend in the field of thermoelectric conversion materials. Consequently, we anticipate that this paper will act as a catalyst for the further investigation of this distinctive phenomenon, ultimately facilitating the practical application of organic thermoelectric conversion materials in society.

3. What aspects of the Materials journal appealed to you and motivated you to submit your paper? In your opinion, what can authors expect when they submit to their work to Materials?
The aspects that drew my attention to the journal Materials included its extensive readership and streamlined submission process. As an open access journal, Materials encompasses a diverse array of materials, properties, and applications, ensuring that published articles reach a broad audience of researchers. I have frequently consulted Materials in my research endeavors. Furthermore, the journal's highly efficient peer-review process is of significant benefit to researchers. Those contemplating submission to a journal can anticipate the rapid dissemination of their research findings to a wide scholarly audience.

4. What is your experience publishing with Materials?
The peer-review process I encountered was both expeditious and constructive. The reviewers’ comments have enriched the discourse surrounding our research and facilitated a more robust argument for the enhanced significance of our findings. Additionally, the submission system was user friendly, requiring minimal tasks from contributors, thereby reducing stress and allowing us to concentrate on enhancing the fundamental quality of our research and manuscripts.