scholarly journals Boron Doping of SWCNTs as a Way to Enhance the Thermoelectric Properties of Melt-Mixed Polypropylene/SWCNT Composites

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beate Krause ◽  
Viktor Bezugly ◽  
Vyacheslav Khavrus ◽  
Liu Ye ◽  
Gianaurelio Cuniberti ◽  
...  

Composites based on the matrix polymer polypropylene (PP) filled with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and boron-doped SWCNTs (B-SWCNTs) were prepared by melt-mixing to analyze the influence of boron doping of SWCNTs on the thermoelectric properties of these nanocomposites. It was found that besides a significantly higher Seebeck coefficient of B-SWCNT films and powder packages, the values for B-SWCNT incorporated in PP were higher than those for SWCNTs. Due to the higher electrical conductivity and the higher Seebeck coefficients of B-SWCNTs, the power factor (PF) and the figure of merit (ZT) were also higher for the PP/B-SWCNT composites. The highest value achieved in this study was a Seebeck coefficient of 59.7 µV/K for PP with 0.5 wt% B-SWCNT compared to 47.9 µV/K for SWCNTs at the same filling level. The highest PF was 0.78 µW/(m·K2) for PP with 7.5 wt% B-SWCNT. SWCNT macro- and microdispersions were found to be similar in both composite types, as was the very low electrical percolation threshold between 0.075 and 0.1 wt% SWCNT. At loadings between 0.5 and 2.0 wt%, B-SWCNT-based composites have one order of magnitude higher electrical conductivity than those based on SWCNT. The crystallization behavior of PP is more strongly influenced by B-SWCNTs since their composites have higher crystallization temperatures than composites with SWCNTs at a comparable degree of crystallinity. Boron doping of SWCNTs is therefore a suitable way to improve the electrical and thermoelectric properties of composites.

Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikola Kanas ◽  
Sathya Singh ◽  
Magnus Rotan ◽  
Temesgen Desissa ◽  
Tor Grande ◽  
...  

High-temperature instability of the Ca3Co4−yO9+δ and CaMnO3−δ direct p-n junction causing the formation of Ca3Co2−xMnxO6 has motivated the investigation of the thermoelectric performance of this intermediate phase. Here, the thermoelectric properties comprising Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity of Ca3Co2−xMnxO6 with x = 0.05, 0.2, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 are reported. Powders of the materials were synthesized by the solid-state method, followed by conventional sintering. The material Ca3CoMnO6 (x = 1) demonstrated a large positive Seebeck coefficient of 668 μV/K at 900 °C, but very low electrical conductivity. Materials with compositions with x < 1 had lower Seebeck coefficients and higher electrical conductivity, consistent with small polaron hopping with an activation energy for mobility of 44 ± 6 kJ/mol and where both the concentration and mobility of hole charge carriers were proportional to 1−x. The conductivity reached about 11 S·cm−1 at 900 °C for x = 0.05. The material Ca3Co1.8Mn0.2O6 (x = 0.2) yielded a maximum zT of 0.021 at 900 °C. While this value in itself is not high, the thermodynamic stability and self-assembly of Ca3Co2−xMnxO6 layers between Ca3Co4−yO9+δ and CaMnO3−δ open for new geometries and designs of oxide-based thermoelectric generators.


Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1146
Author(s):  
Beate Krause ◽  
Alice Liguoro ◽  
Petra Pötschke

The present study investigates how the formation of melt-mixed immiscible blends based on PA6/SAN and PA6/PMMA filled with single walled nanotubes (SWCNTs) affects the thermoelectric (TE) properties. In addition to the detailed investigation of the blend morphology with compositions between 100/0 wt.% and 50/50 wt.%, the thermoelectric properties are investigated on blends with different SWCNT concentrations (0.25–3.0 wt.%). Both PA6 and the blend composites with the used type of SWCNTs showed negative Seebeck coefficients. It was shown that the PA6 matrix polymer, in which the SWCNTs are localized, mainly influenced the thermoelectric properties of blends with high SWCNT contents. By varying the blend composition, an increase in the absolute Seebeck coefficient, power factor (PF), and figure of merit (ZT) was achieved compared to the PA6 composite which is mainly related to the selective localization and enrichment of SWCNTs in the PA6 matrix at constant SWCNT loading. The maximum PFs achieved were 0.22 µW/m·K2 for PA6/SAN/SWCNT 70/30/3 wt.% and 0.13 µW/m·K2 for PA6/PMMA/SWCNT 60/40/3 wt.% compared to 0.09 µW/m·K2 for PA6/3 wt.% SWCNT which represent increases to 244% and 144%, respectively. At higher PMMA or SAN concentration, the change from matrix-droplet to a co-continuous morphology started, which, despite higher SWCNT enrichment in the PA6 matrix, disturbed the electrical conductivity, resulting in reduced PFs with still increasing Seebeck coefficients. At SWCNT contents between 0.5 and 3 wt.% the increase in the absolute Seebeck coefficient was compensated by lower electrical conductivity resulting in lower PF and ZT as compared to the PA6 composites.


2021 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 239-246
Author(s):  
Kyung-Wook Jang ◽  
Ye-Eun Cha ◽  
Deok-Yeong Choi ◽  
Sunuk Kim ◽  
Won-Seon Seo ◽  
...  

La/Ce-partially double-filled and Co-charge-compensated (La<sub>1−z</sub>Ce<sub>z</sub>)<sub>0.8</sub>Fe<sub>4−x</sub>Co<sub>x</sub>Sb<sub>12</sub> skutterudites were synthesized, and their thermoelectric properties were studied by varying the filling ratio and charge compensation. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the matrix phase was skutterudite and a secondary phase was determined to the marcasite FeSb<sub>2</sub>. However, the formation of marcasite could be inhibited by increasing the Co content. Rare-earth antimonides, including LaSb<sub>2</sub> and CeSb<sub>2</sub>, which were formed in fully filled La<sub>1−z</sub>Ce<sub>z</sub>Fe<sub>4−x</sub>Co<sub>x</sub>Sb<sub>12</sub>, were not found after La/Ce partial filling. La/Ce filling and Co substitution were confirmed by the decrease in lattice constants, from 0.9137 to 0.9099 nm, with increasing Ce and Co contents. Electrical conductivity showed negative temperature dependence, indicating metallic or degenerate semiconductor characteristics. Intrinsic conduction resulted in the maximum Seebeck coefficient at temperatures between 723 and 823 K. As the Co-substitution and Ce-filling contents increased, the Seebeck coefficient increased, while electrical and thermal conductivities decreased. This was considered to be due to difference in the valences of La<sup>3+</sup> and Ce<sup>3+/4+</sup> and the increase in carrier concentration caused by Co charge compensation. However, because they had similar atomic masses and ionic radii, the effects of the La/Ce filling ratio were not significant. Instead, Co charge compensation had the dominant effect on thermoelectric properties. The maximum Seebeck coefficient of 165.4 µVK<sup>-1</sup> was obtained for (La<sub>0.25</sub>Ce<sub>0.75</sub>)<sub>0.8</sub>Fe<sub>3</sub>CoSb<sub>12</sub> at 823 K, and the highest electrical conductivity of 2.27 × 10<sup>5</sup> S m<sup>-1</sup> was achieved for (La<sub>0.75</sub>Ce<sub>0.25</sub>)<sub>0.8</sub>Fe<sub>4</sub>Sb<sub>12</sub>. (La<sub>0.25</sub>Ce<sub>0.75</sub>)<sub>0.8</sub>Fe<sub>3</sub>CoSb<sub>12</sub> exhibited the lowest thermal conductivity of 2.15 W m<sup>-1</sup>K<sup>-1</sup> at 523 K and (La<sub>0.75</sub>Ce<sub>0.25</sub>)<sub>0.8</sub>Fe<sub>3.5</sub>Co<sub>0.5</sub>Sb<sub>12</sub> showed the highest power factor of 2.53 mW m<sup>-1</sup> K<sup>-2</sup> at 723 K. The maximum dimensionless figure of merit, ZT<sub>max</sub> = 0.71, was achieved at 723 K for (La<sub>0.75</sub>Ce<sub>0.25</sub>)<sub>0.8</sub>Fe<sub>3</sub>CoSb<sub>12</sub>.


2007 ◽  
Vol 1044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mi-kyung Han ◽  
Huijun Kong ◽  
Ctirad Uher ◽  
Mercouri G Kanatzidis

AbstractWe performed comparative investigations of the Ag1-xPb18MTe20 (M = Bi, Sb) (x = 0, 0.14, 0.3) system to better understand the roles of Sb and Bi on the thermoelectric properties. In both systems, the electrical conductivity nearly keeps the same values, while the Seebeck coefficient decreases dramatically in going from Sb to Bi. Compared to the lattice thermal conductivity of PbTe, that of AgPb18BiTe20 is substantially reduced. The lattice thermal conductivity of the Bi analog, however, is higher than that of AgPb18SbTe20 and this is attributed largely to the decrease in the degree of mass fluctuation between the nanostructures and the matrix (for the Bi analog). As a result the dimensionless figure of merit ZT of Ag1-xPb18MTe20 (M = Bi) is found to be smaller than that of Ag1-xPb18MTe20 (M = Sb).


1998 ◽  
Vol 545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ke-Feng Cai ◽  
Ce-Wen Nan ◽  
Xin-Min Min

AbstractB4C ceramics doped with various content of Si (0 to 2.03 at%) are prepared via hot pressing. The composition and microstructure of the ceramics are characterized by means of XRD and EPMA. Their electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of the samples are measured from room temperature up to 1500K. The electrical conductivity increases with temperature, and more rapidly after 1300K; the Seebeck coefficient of the ceramics also increases with temperature and rises to a value of about 320μVK−1. The value of the figure of merit of Si-doped B4C rises to about 4 × 10−4K−1 at 1500K.


2021 ◽  
Vol 317 ◽  
pp. 28-34
Author(s):  
Joon Hoong Lim

Thermoelectric materials has made a great potential in sustainable energy industries, which enable the energy conversion from heat to electricity. The band structure and thermoelectric properties of Ni(x)Zn(1-x)Fe2O4 have been investigated. The bulk pellets were prepared from analytical grade ZnO, NiO and Fe2O3 powder using solid-state method. It was possible to obtain high thermoelectric properties of Ni(x)Zn(1-x)Fe2O4 by controlling the ratios of dopants and the sintering temperature. XRD analysis showed that the fabricated samples have a single phase formation of cubic spinel structure. The thermoelectric properties of Ni(x)Zn(1-x)Fe2O4 pellets improved with increasing Ni. The electrical conductivity of Ni(x)Zn(1-x)Fe2O4 pellets decreased with increasing Ni content. The electrical conductivity of Ni(x)Zn(1-x)Fe2O4 (x = 0.0) is (0.515 x10-3 Scm-1). The band structure shows that ZnxCu1-xFe2O4 is an indirect band gap material with the valence band maximum (VBM) at M and conduction band minimum (CBM) at A. The band gap of Ni(x)Zn(1-x)Fe2O4 increased with increasing Ni content. The increasing band gap correlated with the lower electrical conductivity. The thermal conductivity of Ni(x)Zn(1-x)Fe2O4 pellets decreased with increasing Ni content. The presence of Ni served to decrease thermal conductivity by 8 Wm-1K-1 over pure samples. The magnitude of the Seebeck coefficient for Ni(x)Zn(1-x)Fe2O4 pellets increased with increasing amounts of Ni. The figure of merit for Ni(x)Zn(1-x)Fe2O4 pellets and thin films was improved by increasing Ni due to its high Seebeck coefficient and low thermal conductivity.


Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Du ◽  
Haixia Li ◽  
Xuechen Jia ◽  
Yunchen Dou ◽  
Jiayue Xu ◽  
...  

Graphite/poly(3,4-ethyenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) nanocomposites were prepared by an in-situ oxidative polymerization process. The electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient of the graphite/PEDOT nanocomposites with different content of graphite were measured in the temperature range from 300 K to 380 K. The results show that as the content of graphite increased from 0 to 37.2 wt %, the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites increased sharply from 3.6 S/cm to 80.1 S/cm, while the Seebeck coefficient kept almost the same value (in the range between 12.0 μV/K to 15.1 μV/K) at 300 K, which lead to an increased power factor. The Seebeck coefficient of the nanocomposites increased from 300 K to 380 K, while the electrical conductivity did not substantially depend on the measurement temperature. As a result, a power factor of 3.2 μWm−1 K−2 at 380 K was obtained for the nanocomposites with 37.2 wt % graphite.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Feng

Abstract The effect of Ti doped at Cu site on the thermoelectric properties of BiCuSeO was studied by experimental method and first principles calculation. The results show that Ti doping can cause the lattice contraction and decrease the lattice constant. Ti doping can increase the band gap and lengthen the Cu/Ti-Se bond, resulting in the decrease of carrier concentration. Ti doping can reduce the effective mass and the Bi-Se bond length, correspondingly improve the carrier mobility. Ti doping can decrease the density of states of Cu-3d and Se-4p orbitals at the top of valence band, but Ti-4p orbitals can obviously increase the density of states at the top of valence band and finally increase the electrical conductivity in the whole temperature range. With the decrease of effective mass, Ti doping would reduce the Seebeck coefficient, but the gain effect caused by the increase of electrical conductivity is more than the benefit reduction effect caused by the decrease of Seebeck coefficient, and the power factor shows an upward trend. Ti doping can reduce Young's modulus, lead to the increase of defect scattering and strain field, correspondingly reduce the lattice thermal conductivity and total thermal conductivity. It is greatly increased for the ZT values in the middle and high temperature range, with the highest value of 1.04 at 873 K.


2008 ◽  
Vol 368-372 ◽  
pp. 547-549
Author(s):  
Jun Jiang ◽  
Ya Li Li ◽  
Gao Jie Xu ◽  
Ping Cui ◽  
Li Dong Chen

In the present study, n-type (Bi2Se3)x(Bi2Te3)1-x crystals with various chemical compositions were fabricated by the zone melting method. Thermoelectric properties, including Seebeck coefficient (α), electrical conductivity (σ) and thermal conductivity (κ), were measured in the temperature range of 300-500 K. The influence of the variations of Bi2Te3 and Bi2Se3 content on thermoelectric properties was studied. The increase of Bi2Se3 content (x) caused an increase in carrier concentration and thus an increase of σ and a decrease of α. The maximum figure of merit (ZT = α2σT/κ) of 0.87 was obtained at about 325 K for the composition of 93%Bi2Te3-7%Bi2Se3 with doping TeI4.


2014 ◽  
Vol 604 ◽  
pp. 249-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnese Pura ◽  
Janis Locs ◽  
Liga Berzina-Cimdina

TiO2samples were obtained by extrusion process, sintered in air at 1000 °C, 1100 °C, 1200°C and 1300 °C and, afterwards, thermally treated under vacuum conditions at 1250 °C for 1 hour applying two different heating/cooling rates (2 °C/min and 5 °C/min). It was found that thermal treatment conditions substantially affected thermoelectric properties of the samples. Increasing sintering temperature, during the sample thermal treatment in air, the electrical conductivity of the specimens increased, while Seebeck coefficient decreased. With an increase in the heating rate during the vacuum heat treatment of the samples, the electrical conductivity of the samples decreased, while Seebeck coefficient increased.


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