Issue 95, 2015

Evaluation of power generated by thermoelectric modules comprising a p-type and n-type single walled carbon nanotube composite paper

Abstract

We report on p-type and n-type thermoelectric (TE) materials made of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) networks incorporated into the cellulose fiber structure of a common packaging paper. This leads the paper to possess both mechanical flexibility from the cellulose fibers as a supporting matrix and the high electrical conductivity originating from the SWCNTs. Thermoelectric power of up to ±50 μV K−1 was successfully obtained as well, depending on their electronic type. Further, to demonstrate its thermoelectric voltage (VTEP) and generating power, a couple of thermoelectric modules composed of both p-type and n-type composite layers were assembled in series. The produced VTEP shows a quasi-linearity with respect to the number of p–n couples and the temperature difference ΔT. Our testing module enables the provision of VTEP and power generation as large as ≈16.8 mV and ≈75.5 nW upon inducing a 50 K temperature difference. The feasibility of commercial TE modules consisting of 10, 100 and 1000 p–n SWCNT couples was numerically calculated, taking into account our experimental results.

Graphical abstract: Evaluation of power generated by thermoelectric modules comprising a p-type and n-type single walled carbon nanotube composite paper

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
15 Jul 2015
Accepted
02 Sep 2015
First published
03 Sep 2015

RSC Adv., 2015,5, 78099-78103

Author version available

Evaluation of power generated by thermoelectric modules comprising a p-type and n-type single walled carbon nanotube composite paper

M. Piao, M. Joo, J. H. Choi, J. M. Shin, Y. S. Moon, G. T. Kim and U. Dettlaff-Weglikowska, RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 78099 DOI: 10.1039/C5RA13893K

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