A facile strategy for the development of n‒type carbon nanotube composites with tunable thermoelectric properties via thiol‒ene chemistry. (4th June 2021) - Tonga, Murat
Abstract: This work exploits thiol‒ ene chemistry for the development of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) ‒ based, solution‒ processed, and flexible thermoelectric (TE) composites. A systematic study was implemented by optimizing many aspects: (i) use of π‒ conjugated vs non‒ conjugated linkers, (ii) amount and type of CNTs (SWNT vs MWNT) in the composite, and (iii) doping. The resulting samples revealed that the materials exhibited n ‒ type semiconducting behavior without requiring a doping process and attained power factors (PF) up to 1.1 μW m − 1 K − 2 . It was also found that the composites made with non‒ conjugated linkers showed better TE performance than that of π‒ conjugated linkers. Besides n ‒ type materials, this methodology is also capable of producing p ‒ type materials, and n ‒ type materials can also convert to p ‒ type upon doping exposure. A variety of distinct surface morphologies with segregated structures were observed on scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The methodology which has been benefited here relies on the factors beyond just the blend composition or type of CNTs used, including the specific structure of the linkers, doping process, and the morphology resulting from the cross‒ linking composites. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Thiol‒ ene chemistry was used to develop CNT‒ based thermoelectric composites. The effects of the type of linkers, amount and type of CNTs, and doping were investigated. Non‒ conjugated linkers showed better TE performance than π‒ conjugated linkers. n ‒ type behavior was observed without doping process. Distinct surface morphologies with segregated structures were observed.