Issue 1, 2024

Eco-friendly conversion between n- and p-type carbon nanotubes based on rationally functionalized lignin biopolymers

Abstract

As global interest in carbon-neutrality policies grows, the demand for sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels intensifies. Herein, we demonstrate functionalized lignin-based n- and p-dopants for nanocarbon materials, providing promising eco-friendly alternatives to chemical dopants derived from fossil fuels. A simple microwave-assisted phenolation of organosolv lignin introduces phenol groups, offering additional reaction sites and enhancing solvent solubility for uniform, reliable and efficient carbon nanotube (CNT) doping. To create effective n- and p-dopants, the phenolated lignin is further functionalized with amine and hexafluoropropyl groups, respectively. The aminated and fluorinated lignin-doped CNTs present the Seebeck coefficients of −48.0 and 53.9 μV K−1, respectively, confirming an efficient and eco-friendly conversion between n- and p-type CNT. Notably, this n-doping performance is of particular significance since stable and reliable n-doping is challenging due to the inherent p-type semiconducting properties of CNTs. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate a flexible thermoelectric generator using 10 p–n pairs of the CNT films. The output voltage (7.86 mV) and output power (247 nW) of the flexible generator at ΔT = 15 K confirm that the aminated- and fluorinated lignin-doped CNT films exhibit n- and p-type characteristics, respectively. This study paves the way for sustainable, lignin-based doping of carbon nanomaterials, offering a green alternative to traditional fossil fuel-derived dopants and contributing to the transition towards carbon-neutral technologies.

Graphical abstract: Eco-friendly conversion between n- and p-type carbon nanotubes based on rationally functionalized lignin biopolymers

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
16 10 2023
Accepted
04 12 2023
First published
05 12 2023

Green Chem., 2024,26, 330-339

Eco-friendly conversion between n- and p-type carbon nanotubes based on rationally functionalized lignin biopolymers

Y. Choi, N. T. Tran, D. Jang, M. Park, C. Yoo, J. Y. Kim, H. Lee and H. Kim, Green Chem., 2024, 26, 330 DOI: 10.1039/D3GC03944G

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