Ways to enhance thermoelectric properties of melt mixed polypropylene-carbon nanotube composites
Research output: Contribution to conferences › Paper › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
Melt-mixed polypropylene (PP) composites with singlewalled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were used as thermoelectric materials which can convert a temperature difference between the two sides of the material into a thermovoltage. The effect of SWCNT content on Seebeck coefficient (S), electrical conductivity, and power factor was studied. In order to enhance these values for p-type composites, several strategies were applied. These involve (a) variation of the SWCNT modification, (b) incorporation of a high S copper oxide, (c) variation of melt-mixing conditions, and (d) addition of an ionic liquid. To generate n-type composites, additives like polyethylene glycol (PEG) and a non-ionic surfactant polyoxyethylene 20 cetyl ether were simply added during the melt-mixing procedure, inducing a switching from positive to negative S value in the pressed films. Finally, two prototype thermoelectric generators using both p- and n-type PP based materials could be manufactured.
Details
Original language | English |
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Publication status | Published - 2018 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
Externally published | Yes |
Conference
Title | 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers Annual Technical Conference, ANTEC 2018 |
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Duration | 7 - 10 May 2018 |
City | Orlando |
Country | United States of America |