Tailoring Thermoelectric Properties of Segregated-Network Polymer Nanocomposites for Thermoelectric Energy Conversion

Carbon nanotube (CNT)-polymer composites were prepared by segregated network approach. CNTs were served as conductive fillers in a polymer matrix to synthesize electrically conducting polymer composites. In the segregated network composites, the thermoelectric properties were further improved by replacing Gum Arabic (GA) with electrically conductive stabilizer PEDOT:PSS doped with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The electrical and thermal conductivities and Seebeck coefficient were measured to determine the thermoelectric property of the polymer composites. The electrical conductivity of the composites with 9.8wt% of CNT was 3191.8 S/m whereas that of 10wt% CNT composite with GA sample was 400 S/m.