Carbon Nanoparticle Hybrid Aerogels: 3D Double-Interconnected Network Porous Microstructure, Thermoelectric, and Solvent-Removal Functions

Abstract

We report reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) hybrid aerogels with enhanced thermoelectric (TE) performance and removal of organic solvents by designing 3D double-interconnected network porous microstructures. A convenient, cost-effective, and scalable preparation procedure is proposed compared with conventional high-temperature pyrolysis and supercritical drying techniques. The obtained hybrid aerogels are systematically characterized by apparent density, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and porosity. An enhanced TE performance of ZT ≈ ∼8.03 × 10 has been achieved due to the 3D double-interconnected network porous microstructure, the energy-filtering effect, and the phonon scattering at the abundant interfaces and joints. In addition, upon a large axial compression deformation, a high degree of retention of the Seebeck coefficient and a simultaneously significant enhancement of the electrical conductivity are observed. Finally, the hybrid aerogels display high capability for the removal of diverse organic solvents and good recyclability. These findings open a new avenue for exploiting aerogels with multifunctions and widening the applications of TE materials by judicious microstructure design.

Carbon Nanotube-Based Organic Thermoelectric Materials for Energy Harvesting

“…The ideal TE materials should have a high Seebeck coefficient, high electrical conductivity, and low thermal conductivity [60]. However, from the above analysis, we see that these parameters are not independent of each other: the Seebeck coefficient is typically inversely proportional to the electrical conductivity; the thermal conductivity is proportional to the electrical conductivity [61]. The development of high TE performance materials is generally a process of decoupling the three key parameters.…”

A p-type multi-wall carbon nanotube/Te nanorod composite with enhanced thermoelectric performance

“…17 Recently, many reports have been published on the enhancement of thermoelectric properties of composite materials by co-synthesis with carbon-based materials. [18][19][20][21][22] Examples include the addition of singlewalled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) to a Bi 2 Te 3 matrix to enhance its thermoelectric properties, incorporation of graphene in a Bi 2 Te 3 nanowire matrix to enhance its electrical conductivity while reducing the thermal conductivity, 23 and the addition of SWCNTs to Ag 2 Te to enhance its power factor. 24 In the case of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), Khasimsaheb et al 25 reported an enhancement of power factor and ZT of PbTe nanocubes upon the addition of MWCNT.…”

Assembly Strategy and Performance Evaluation of Flexible Thermoelectric Devices

“…The TE performance of these materials are generally evaluated by a dimensionless figure of merit ( ZT ), , where S , σ, k , and T stand for the Seebeck coefficient or thermopower, the electrical conductivity, the thermal conductivity, and the absolute temperature, respectively. In cases of low thermal conductivities for the neat polymers and their composite materials, their TE performance is always evaluated by power factor (PF = S 2 σ) . Very regretfully, the performance evaluation for the flexible TE devices is confused in the available literatures.…”

“…[7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Very regretfully, the performance evaluation for the flexible TE devices is confused in the available literatures. In cases of low thermal conductivities for the neat polymers and their composite materials, their TE performance is always evaluated by power factor (PF = S 2 σ).…”