Increase in thermoelectric power factor of carbon-nanotube films after addition of polystyrene

• Seebeck coefficient of carbon-nanotube (CNT) films increases on adding polystyrene.
• The power factor showed maximum at a polystyrene concentration of about 20 wt%.
• Polystyrene is a superior binder polymer for CNT/polymer thermoelectric composites.

We report the enhancement of the thermoelectric power factors of single-walled carbon-nanotube (SWCNT) films caused by the addition of polystyrene to the films as a binder. The Seebeck coefficient of the SWCNT films was increased by addition of polystyrene. On the other hand, the electrical conductivity gradually decreased with increasing amount of polystyrene. The power factor was maximum for a polystyrene concentration of 20 wt%; it was approximately 1.7 times higher than that of a pure SWCNT film. These results indicate that polystyrene is a superior binder polymer for synthesizing CNT/polymer thermoelectric composites.

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