Improved thermoelectric properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes/AgSe controlling the composite ratio

• Published in: CrystEngComm Vol. 24; no. 2; pp. 26 - 268
• Main Authors: Chen, Nana, Ren, Chaojun, Sun, Like, Xue, Haoyue, Yang, Han, An, Xue, Yang, Xiaoyu, Zhang, Jiajing, Che, Ping
• Format: Journal Article
• Published: 04.01.2022
• ISSN: 1466-8033
• DOI: 10.1039/d1ce01442k

The development of high-efficiency thermoelectric materials is extremely important for energy harvesting. In this study, novel MWCNTs/Ag 2 Se (MCAS) composites were successfully fabricated via a typical one-pot hydrothermal method and their thermoelectric properties were discussed in the temperature range from 300-420 K. SEM images revealed that the microparticle diameter of Ag 2 Se in MCAS was about 10 times smaller than that of pure Ag 2 Se, which contributed to close contact and a synergistic effect at the MCAS interface. Thermoelectric measurements indicated that 1%MCAS obtained the optimal thermoelectric figure of merit ( ZT ) value, and this was ascribed to the outstanding electrical conductivity of the MWCNTs and the lowered thermal conductivity of 1%MCAS. The electrical conductivity of 1%MCAS was 3.0 times higher than that of Ag 2 Se, and the lattice thermal conductivity decreased by 55.3% at 300 K. This study provides a new strategy for designing Ag 2 Se-based thermoelectric materials and promoting thermoelectric performance. MWCNTs/Ag 2 Se composites were synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method; higher electrical conductivity and lower thermal conductivity were simultaneously achieved compared with Ag 2 Se, resulting in enhanced thermoelectric performance.