Thermoelectric Composites Based on Carbon Nanotubes and Micro Glass Bubbles

In this paper, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and micro glass bubbles (GBs) have been incorporated into a polyamide6 (PA6) matrix to impart thermoelectric properties. The spaces created in the matrix by GBs allows the formation of "segregated" CNT network. The tightly bound CNT network, if controlled properly, can serve as a conductive path for electron transport, while prohibiting phonon transport, which would provide an ideal configuration for thermoelectric applications. The CNTs and GBs were dispersed in a nylon-formic acid solution using horn sonication followed by coagulation in deionized water, and nanocomposite panels were fabricated using a hot press. The performance of nanocomposite panels was evaluated from thermal and electrical conductivities and Seebeck coefficient, and a thermoelectric figure of merit as high as 0.016 was achieved.