Enhanced thermoelectric properties exhibited by unreduced freestanding graphene oxide/carbon nanotube membranes

Abstract

Herein we determine the Seebeck coefficients, electric conductivities, and thermoelectric power factors of a range of unreduced graphene oxide (GO)/single-wall carbon nanotube (CNT) membranes incorporating different GO/CNT ratios as well as of a series of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) membranes for which reduction had occurred at different temperatures. The considerable thermoelectric power factor of 5.33 × 10⁻² μW mK⁻² generated from unreduced GO/CNT (1 : 2 ratio) is in agreement with its suitability for application as a flexible thermoelectric material. Moreover, compared to the conventional architectures of traditional thermoelectric materials, the inherent flexibility of GO-based thermoelectric materials opens the door to improved performance and efficiency, with lightweight, scalable, stretchable, and/or wearable materials being the outcome.