Multilayered carbon nanotube/polymer composite based thermoelectric fabrics.
Thermoelectrics are materials capable of the solid-state conversion between thermal and electrical energy. Carbon nanotube/polymer composite thin films are known to exhibit thermoelectric effects, however, have a low figure of merit (ZT) of 0.02. In this work, we demonstrate individual composite films of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT)/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) that are layered into multiple element modules that resemble a felt fabric. The thermoelectric voltage generated by these fabrics is the sum of contributions from each layer, resulting in increased power output. Since these fabrics have the potential to be cheaper, lighter, and more easily processed than the commonly used thermoelectric bismuth telluride, the overall performance of the fabric shows promise as a realistic alternative in a number of applications such as portable lightweight electronics.
Center for Nanotechnology, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, North Carolina 27105, USA.
Corey A
CA
Hewitt
Alan B
AB
Kaiser
Siegmar
S
Roth
Matt
M
Craps
Richard
R
Czerw
David L
DL
Carroll
D004553:Electric Conductivity; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004735:Energy Transfer; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006361:Heating / Q000295:instrumentation*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013784:Textiles; D013814:Thermal Conductivity; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers
D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D011145:Polyvinyls; C024865:polyvinylidene fluoride; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers