Evaluation of power generated by thermoelectric modules comprising a p-type and n-type single walled carbon nanotube composite paper

Abstract

We report on p-type and n-type thermoelectric (TE) materials made of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) networks incorporated into the cellulose fiber structure of a common packaging paper. This leads the paper to possess both mechanical flexibility from the cellulose fibers as a supporting matrix and the high electrical conductivity originating from the SWCNTs. Thermoelectric power of up to ±50 μV K⁻¹ was successfully obtained as well, depending on their electronic type. Further, to demonstrate its thermoelectric voltage (V_TEP) and generating power, a couple of thermoelectric modules composed of both p-type and n-type composite layers were assembled in series. The produced V_TEP shows a quasi-linearity with respect to the number of p–n couples and the temperature difference ΔT. Our testing module enables the provision of V_TEP and power generation as large as ≈16.8 mV and ≈75.5 nW upon inducing a 50 K temperature difference. The feasibility of commercial TE modules consisting of 10, 100 and 1000 p–n SWCNT couples was numerically calculated, taking into account our experimental results.