摘要
Organic thermoelectric devices are often built on conductive polymers that show a low thermal conductivity and wide range of Seebeck coefficient. This work demonstrates for the first time non-conductive polymer based energy converter made of polyamide-6 (nylon-6) and carbon nanotubes. Tubes create percolation paths to transport carriers/phonons and hydrophilic matrix, as wetted by electrolytes, delivers adsorbed ions to (i) tube surfaces and (ii) intertube junctions. Surface adsorption induces doping and improves electrical conductivity of tubes. Intercalation on the other hand enhances scattering of phonons along the transverse direction. Measurements reveal Seebeck coefficient = 9 ~ 11 μVK and figure of merit = 3–6.5 × 10 at 300K.