Varying the concentration of single walled carbon nanotubes in thin film polymer composites, and its effect on thermoelectric power

Abstract

Resistivity and thermoelectric power (TEP) measurements were conducted on single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT), polyvinylidene fluoride composite thin films of varying SWNT concentrations. This heterogeneous material was used in order to utilize the good electrical conductance of the nanotubes and the poor thermal conductance of the polymer to increase the figure of merit (ZT). As the nanotube weight percent decreased from 100% to 5%, the beneficial effects of the TEP increase and thermal conductivity decrease outweighed the negative effect of decreased electrical conductivity, resulting in an increase in ZT by a factor of 100. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3580761]