Preparation and characterization of graphene nanosheets/poly(3-hexylthiophene) thermoelectric composite materials

Graphene nanosheets/poly(3-hexylthiophene) (GNs/P3HT) composites were prepared by oxidative polymerization of 3-hexylthiophene in a GNs dispersed chloroform solution. The phase composition of the composite materials was analyzed by X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectra. The thermoelectric properties of the cold pressed composite pellets with different GNs loadings were measured at room temperature. As the GNs loading increased from 0 to 30 wt.%, the electrical conductivity of the composites dramatically increased from ∼10−6 to ∼1.2 S/cm while the Seebeck coefficient slightly increased from 33.15 to 35.46 μV/K. The highest power factor (∼0.16 μW m−1 K−2) was obtained in the 30 wt.% GNs/P3HT composite material.

► GNs/P3HT thermoelectric composites were prepared.
► The TE properties of the prepared composites were measured.
► A maximum power factor of ∼0.16 μW m−1 K−2 was obtained.