Thermal conductivity of the MWCNT/PDMS nanocomposite, Seebeck coefficient

The MWCNT/PDMS nanocomposite with 2 wt. % of MWCNTs was characterized by a low thermal conductivity of 0.22 W/mK and a relatively high electrical conductivity of 22 S/cm. These remarkable properties of the MWCNT/PDMS nanocomposite were obtained through chemical etching, which exposed the carbon nanotubes on the surface of the nanocomposite. The Seebeck coefficient determined ranged from 3.7 to 4.6 μV/K in the temperature range from 293 to 333 K, which corresponds well to the Seebeck coefficient reported for pure MWCNTs. The thermoelectric factor ranged from 4· 10-5 to 7.4 · 10-5. The good thermal, electrical, and thermoelectric properties of the MWCNT/PDMS nanocomposite, together with its flexibility, make it a promising material for the production of large-scale flexible thermoelectric generators.