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Enhanced thermoelectric performance of defect engineered monolayer graphene
Woochang Kim1,2,3, Wonseok Lee2,4, Seung-Mo Lee1,5
1Department of Nanomechanics, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, 156 Gajeongbuk-ro, Daejeon 34103, Republic of Korea.
Nanotechnology
|January 12, 2022
Summary
Defect engineering in graphene via plasma treatment and platinum atomic layer deposition (ALD) significantly enhances thermoelectric properties. This method boosts electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient, improving the figure of merit for advanced thermoelectric devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Solid State Physics
Background:
- Graphene exhibits promising thermoelectric properties but requires optimization for practical applications.
- Defect engineering is a key strategy to tune graphene's electronic and thermal transport characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel method for enhancing graphene's thermoelectric performance.
- To investigate the effects of controlled defect creation and healing on graphene's thermoelectric properties.
Main Methods:
- Graphene samples were intentionally defected using oxygen plasma treatment.
- Atomic layer deposition (ALD) with platinum (Pt-ALD) was employed to heal the induced defects.
- Thermoelectric properties, including thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, and Seebeck coefficient, were measured before and after treatment.
Main Results:
- Plasma treatment created atomic blemishes in graphene.
- Pt-ALD successfully healed these defects, leading to a slight increase in thermal conductivity.
- A pronounced increase in electrical conductivity and the square of the Seebeck coefficient was observed.
- The thermoelectric figure of merit of the treated graphene was enhanced by over 4.8 times compared to literature values.
Conclusions:
- Controlled defect engineering using plasma treatment and ALD is an effective strategy to improve graphene's thermoelectric properties.
- The enhanced figure of merit suggests significant potential for graphene-based thermoelectric devices.
- This approach provides a valuable guideline for designing high-performance thermoelectric materials.
