Issue 9, 2024

A hierarchically modified fibre-reinforced polymer composite laminate with graphene nanotube coatings operating as an efficient thermoelectric generator

Abstract

In this study, a multifunctional, hierarchically modified glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite laminate (GFRP) capable of harvesting thermoelectric energy is fabricated and demonstrated. The fibrous reinforcements were hierarchically patterned with alternate n- and p-type graphene nanotube (single-walled carbon nanotube – SWCNT) aqueous dispersions, which were printed via ink dispensing processes. The optimal n- and p-type resin-impregnated printed films demonstrate high power factors of 82 and 96 μW m−1 K−2, respectively, and excellent stability in air. The manufactured GFRP-based graphene thermoelectric generator (GTEG) has the capability to stably function up to 125 °C under ambient conditions (1 atm, RH: 50 ± 5% RH). Printed SWCNT-based thermoelectric (TE) modules were successfully designed and fabricated onto a glass fiber fabric substrate with remarkable properties of n-type and p-type TE thin films resulting in exceptionally high performance. The thermoelectrically functionalized GFRP exhibits excellent stability during operation with obtained TE values of an open circuit voltage VOC = 1.01 V, short circuit current ISC = 850 μA, internal resistance RTEG = 1188 Ohm, and a generated power output Pmax = 215 μW at ΔT = 100 °C with TC = 25 °C. The novelty of this work is that it demonstrates for the first time a multilayered hierarchically modified carbon-based energy-harvesting structural composite, capable of powering electronic devices such as a LED light from the power it generates when exposed to a temperature difference, and the overall results are among the highest ever presented in the field of energy-harvesting structural composites and printed carbon-based thermoelectrics. Both experimental measurements and simulations validated the TE performance. In addition, GFRP–GTEG showed a bending strength of 310 MPa and a flexural modulus of 21.3 GPa under room temperature (RT) and normal conditions (25 °C), retaining to a significant extent its mechanical properties while simultaneously providing the energy-harvesting capability. The aforementioned functional composite may be easily scaled-up, delivering potential for industrial-scale manufacturing of high-performance TEG-enabled structural composites.

Graphical abstract: A hierarchically modified fibre-reinforced polymer composite laminate with graphene nanotube coatings operating as an efficient thermoelectric generator

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
14 Nov 2023
Accepted
05 Mar 2024
First published
06 Mar 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Mater. Adv., 2024,5, 3721-3734

A hierarchically modified fibre-reinforced polymer composite laminate with graphene nanotube coatings operating as an efficient thermoelectric generator

C. K. Mytafides, L. Tzounis, K. Tsirka, G. Karalis, M. Liebscher, E. Lambrou, L. N. Gergidis and A. S. Paipetis, Mater. Adv., 2024, 5, 3721 DOI: 10.1039/D3MA01000G

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