Interface Engineering\nfor High-Performance Thermoelectric\nCarbon Nanotube Films

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) stand out for their exceptional\nelectrical,\nthermal, and mechanical attributes, making them highly promising materials\nfor cutting-edge, lightweight, and flexible thermoelectric applications.\nHowever, realizing the full potential of advanced thermoelectric CNTs\nrequires precise management of their electrical and thermal characteristics.\nThis study, through interface optimization, demonstrates the feasibility\nof reducing the thermal conductivity while preserving robust electrical\nconductivity in single-walled CNT films. Our findings reveal that\nblending two functionalized CNTs offers a versatile method of tailoring\nthe structural and electronic properties of CNT films. Moreover, the\nmodified interface exerts a substantial influence over thermal and\nelectrical transfer, effectively suppressing heat dissipation and\nfacilitating thermoelectric power generation within CNT films. As\na result, we have successfully produced both p- and n-type thermoelectric\nCNTs, attaining impressive power factors of 507 and 171 μW/mK² at room temperature, respectively. These results provide\nvaluable insights into the fabrication of high-performance thermoelectric\nCNT films.