Room-temperature power factor of CuAlO2 composite tablets enhanced by MWCNTs

Abstract

CuAlO2 with high theoretical thermoelectric performance has potential applications in thermal energy conversion. Herein, multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/CuAlO2 composite tablets are prepared by using different amounts of MWCNTs and solid paraffin binder, where MWCNTs served as a conductive agent and rendered three orders of magnitude increase in electrical conductivity. Seebeck coefficient of the composites was reduced with increasing MWCNTs content. Consequently, an optimal room-temperature thermoelectric power factor (PF) of 1.31 μW m−1K−2 has been rendered by MWCNTs/CuAlO2 composite tablet with 1 wt % MWCNTs. Moreover, PF value increased with increasing temperature after a slight decrease at 333 K, which can be ascribed to the modulation of electrical conductivity. Current work provides an effective strategy to improve thermoelectric performance of CuAlO2 materials.