Mariano Campoy-Quiles1
ICMAB-CSIC1
The conversion of waste heat into electricity using solid state devices, namely thermoelectrics, based on carbon materials has experienced renewed interest in the last decade as these materials are particularly suited for large area and low-temperature operation applications since they are abundant, typically show low-toxicity and are easy to process [1].<br/>In this contribution we will focus on our recent attempts to further extend the sustainability, scalability and range of applications of CNT based thermoelectrics. First, we will describe the use bacteria in environmentally friendly aqueous media to grow large area bacterial nanocellulose (BC) films with an embedded highly dispersed CNT network [2]. The thick films are fully bendable, can conformally wrap around heat sources and are stable above 500 K. The resulting composite films exhibit comparable thermoelectric properties to buckypapers while saving more than 90% of the carbon nanotubes. Interestingly, BC can be enzymatically decomposed, thus completely reclaiming the embedded CNTs once the generator has reached the end of its lifetime. Second, we will show our recent studies on the stability and scalability of CNT based thermoelectrics, starting from CNT salts, [3] and give some examples of potential uses, such as solar thermoelectrics [4].<br/>[1] Will organic thermoelectrics get hot? M. Campoy-Quiles, <i>Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A</i>, 377, 20180352 (2019).<br/>[2] Farming thermoelectric paper, D. Abol Fotouh, B. Dorling, O. Zapata Arteaga, X. Rodríguez Martínez, A. Gómez, J. S. Reparaz, A. Laromaine, A. Roig and M. Campoy Quiles<i>, Energy and Enviromental Science</i>, 12, 716-726 (2019).<br/>[3] Soluble alkali-metal carbon nanotube salts for n-type thermoelectric composites with improved stability, B. Dorling, X. Rodríguez Martínez, I. Álvarez Corzo, J. S. Reparaz, and M. Campoy Quiles, <i>Applied Physics Letters</i> 118, 213901 (2021).<br/>[4] Solar harvesting: a unique opportunity for organic thermoelectrics? José P. Jurado, B. Dorling, O. Zapata Arteaga, A. Roig, A. Mihi and M. Campoy Quiles, <i>Advanced Energy Materials</i>, 9, 45, 1902385 (2019).