Elements Doping Strategy for Improving the Thermoelectric Properties of g-C₃N₄/SWCNT Composite Films

Optimizing carrier concentration and transport has been demonstrated to be a practical strategy to improve the thermoelectric efficacy of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)-based composite films, which have potential application in self-powered wearable electronics. In this study, nonmetallic heteroatoms (boron, sulfur, and phosphorus) are selected to dope g-C₃N₄ to adjust the energy band structure for fabricating g-C₃N₄/SWCNT with high thermoelectric performance. Heteroatom doping of g-C₃N₄ improves the energy band structure and mobility of g-C₃N₄, which promotes the carrier transport between g-C₃N₄ and SWCNT and optimizes the carrier mobility and concentration of the composite, substantially improving both the Seebeck coefficient (S) and the electrical conductivity (σ) of g-C₃N₄/SWCNT. The results show that boron doped g-C₃N₄/SWCNT exhibits the maximum room temperature power factor (PF) of 198.4 μW m^-1 K^-2 alongside a Seebeck coefficient of 31.4 μV K^-1 among the prepared nonmetallic heteroatom doped g-C₃N₄/SWCNT composite films. Furthermore, under a temperature difference of 60 K, the flexible thermoelectric device made of the composite film produces a high output power of 5.7 μW and a large open-circuit voltage of 50.3 mV. Thus, this study presents an innovative method for improving the efficacy of composite thermoelectric materials utilizing SWCNT and inorganic materials, demonstrating potential applications in flexible electronics.