title: Paper Thermoelectrics: Merging Nanotechnology with Naturally Abundant Fibrous Material.
abstract: The development of paper-based sensors, antennas, and energy-harvesting devices can transform the way electronic devices are manufactured and used. Herein we describe an approach to fabricate paper thermoelectric generators for the first time by directly impregnating naturally abundant cellulose materials with p- or n-type colloidal semiconductor quantum dots. We investigate Seebeck coefficients and electrical conductivities as a function of temperature between 300 and 400 K as well as in-plane thermal conductivities using Angstrom's method. We further demonstrate equipment-free fabrication of flexible thermoelectric modules using p- and n-type paper strips. Leveraged by paper's inherently low thermal conductivity and high flexibility, these paper modules have the potential to efficiently utilize heat available in natural and man-made environments by maximizing the thermal contact to heat sources of arbitrary geometry.
authors: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights , Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States.
authors: Chengjun
authors: C
authors: Sun
authors: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights , Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States.
authors: Amir Hossein
authors: AH
authors: Goharpey
authors: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights , Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States.
authors: Ayush
authors: A
authors: Rai
authors: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights , Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States.
authors: Teng
authors: T
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights , Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States.
authors: Dong-Kyun
authors: DK
authors: Ko
keywords: colloidal quantum dots; energy harvesting; nanocomposites; paper electronics; thermoelectrics