Preparation and characterization of multiwalled carbon nanotube/poly(3-hexylthiophene) thermoelectric composite materials

Multiwalled carbon nanotube/poly(3-hexylthiophene) (MWCNT/P3HT) composites were prepared by oxidative polymerization of 3-hexylthiophene in a MWCNTs dispersed chloroform solution. The phase composition of the composite materials was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The thermoelectric properties of the composite powders, after cold pressing into pellets, were measured at temperatures between 293 and 423 K. The electrical conductivity of samples containing 30 wt% MWCNT displayed a gradual decrease in conductivity from 0.13 to 0.11 S/cm across this temperature range and was accompanied by an increased in the Seebeck coefficient from 9.7 to 11.3 μV/K.

► MWCNT/P3HT thermoelectric composites were prepared. ► The TE properties of the prepared composites were measured. ► A maximum power factor of ∼1.56 × 10−3 μW m−1 K−2 was obtained.