title: Synthesis, characterization and enhanced thermoelectric performance of structurally ordered cable-like novel polyaniline-bismuth telluride nanocomposite.
abstract: Bismuth telluride (Bi₂Te₃) nanorods and polyaniline (PANI) nanoparticles have been synthesized by employing solvothermal and chemical oxidative processes, respectively. Nanocomposites, comprising structurally ordered PANI preferentially grown along the surface of a Bi₂Te₃ nanorods template, are synthesized using in situ polymerization. X-ray powder diffraction, UV-vis and Raman spectral analysis confirm the highly ordered chain structure of PANI on Bi₂Te₃ nanorods, leading to a higher extent of doping, higher chain mobility and enhancement of the thermoelectric performance. Above 380 K, the PANI-Bi₂Te₃ nanocomposite with a core-shell/cable-like structure exhibits a higher thermoelectric power factor than either pure PANI or Bi₂Te₃. At room temperature the thermal conductivity of the composite is lower than that of its pure constituents, due to selective phonon scattering by the nanointerfaces designed in the PANI-Bi₂Te₃ nanocable structures. The figure of merit of the nanocomposite at room temperature is comparable to the values reported in the literature for bulk polymer-based composite thermoelectric materials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Bengal Engineering and Science University, Shibpur, Howrah 711103, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Krishanu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.forename: Mousumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.forename: Kajari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kargupta
authors.forename: Saibal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ganguly
authors.forename: Dipali
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Banerjee
mesh_terms: D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D001729:Bismuth / Q000737:chemistry*; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004735:Energy Transfer; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008422:Materials Testing; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D013499:Surface Properties; D013691:Tellurium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014159:Transducers
chemical_list: D000814:Aniline Compounds; C416807:polyaniline; C542787:bismuth telluride; D013691:Tellurium; D001729:Bismuth