High-Performance MoS₂/SWCNT Composite Films for a Flexible Thermoelectric Power Generator

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Energy Harvesting

Background:

• Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) offer flexibility and conductivity for wearable thermoelectric devices.
• However, low Seebeck coefficients and high thermal conductivity limit their thermoelectric applications.
• Improving thermoelectric performance of SWCNT-based materials is crucial for practical use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate MoS2/SWCNT composite films with enhanced thermoelectric properties.
• To investigate the effect of MoS2 doping on SWCNT thermoelectric performance.
• To demonstrate a practical thermoelectric device using the developed composite material.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of free-standing MoS2/SWCNT composite films.
• Doping SWCNTs with MoS2 nanosheets to create composite materials.
• Characterization of thermoelectric properties including Seebeck coefficient (S) and electrical conductivity (σ).

Main Results:

• MoS2 doping improved the Seebeck coefficient (S) via an energy filtering effect at the MoS2/SWCNT interface.
• Electrical conductivity (σ) was enhanced due to improved carrier transport from S-π interactions.
• A maximum power factor of 131.9 ± 4.5 μW m⁻¹ K⁻² was achieved at room temperature.
• A thermoelectric device demonstrated a maximum output power of 0.43 μW under a 50 K temperature gradient.

Conclusions:

• MoS2/SWCNT composites show significantly enhanced thermoelectric properties compared to pristine SWCNTs.
• The developed composite films offer a promising pathway for high-performance flexible thermoelectric devices.
• This work presents a facile method to boost the thermoelectric performance of SWCNT-based materials.