Ethylene-octene-copolymer with embedded carbon and organic conductive nanostructures for thermoelectric applications

0531095 - ÚH 2021 RIV CH eng J - Journal Article
Slobodian, P. - Říha, Pavel - Olejník, R. - Sedlačík, M.
Ethylene-octene-copolymer with embedded carbon and organic conductive nanostructures for thermoelectric applications.
Polymers. Roč. 12, č. 6 (2020), č. článku 1316. E-ISSN 2073-4360
Institutional support: RVO:67985874
Keywords : carbon fibers * carbon nanotubes * ethylene-octene-copolymer * polyaniline * polypyrrole * thermoelectric composites
OECD category: Nano-processes (applications on nano-scale)
Impact factor: 4.329, year: 2020
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/12/6/1316

Hybrid thermoelectric composites consisting of organic ethylene-octene-copolymer matrices (EOC) and embedded inorganic pristine and functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers or organic polyaniline and polypyrrole particles were used to form conductive nanostructures with thermoelectric properties, which at the same time had sufficient strength, elasticity, and stability. Oxygen doping of carbon nanotubes increased the concentration of carboxyl and C-O functional groups on the nanotube surfaces and enhanced the thermoelectric power of the respective composites by up to 150%. A thermocouple assembled from EOC composites generated electric current by heat supplied with a mere short touch of the finger. A practical application of this thermocouple was provided by a self-powered vapor sensor, for operation of which an electric current in the range of microvolts sufficed, and was readily induced by (waste) heat. The heat-induced energy ensured the functioning of this novel sensor device, which converted chemical signals elicited by the presence of heptane vapors to the electrical domain through the resistance changes of the comprising EOC composites.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0309839