In-situ growth of carbon nanotubes on ZnO to enhance thermoelectric and mechanical properties
Abstract As a high-temperature thermoelectric (TE) material, ZnO offers advantages of non-toxicity, chemical stability, and oxidation resistance, and shows considerable promise as a true ready-to-use module under air conditions. However, poor electrical conductivity and high thermal conductivity sev...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Tsinghua University Press
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of Advanced Ceramics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40145-022-0657-4 |
| _version_ | 1827848937568993280 |
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| author | Shengjie Fan Tingting Sun Meng Jiang Shijia Gu Lianjun Wang Haixue Yan Wan Jiang |
| author_facet | Shengjie Fan Tingting Sun Meng Jiang Shijia Gu Lianjun Wang Haixue Yan Wan Jiang |
| author_sort | Shengjie Fan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract As a high-temperature thermoelectric (TE) material, ZnO offers advantages of non-toxicity, chemical stability, and oxidation resistance, and shows considerable promise as a true ready-to-use module under air conditions. However, poor electrical conductivity and high thermal conductivity severely hinder its application. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are often used as a reinforcing phase in composites, but it is difficult to achieve uniform dispersion of CNTs due to van der Waals forces. Herein, we developed an effective in-situ growth strategy of homogeneous CNTs on ZnO nanoparticles by exploiting the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technology, in order to improve their electrical conductivity and mechanical properties, as well as reducing the thermal conductivity. Meanwhile, magnetic nickel (Ni) nanoparticles are introduced as catalysts for promoting the formation of CNTs, which can also enhance the electrical and thermal transportation of ZnO matrices. Notably, the electrical conductivity of ZnO is significantly boosted from 26 to 79 S·cm−1 due to the formation of dense and uniform conductive CNT networks. The lattice thermal conductivity (κ L) is obviously declined by the intensification of phonon scattering, resulting from the abundant grain boundaries and interfaces in ZnO-CNT composites. Importantly, the maximum dimensionless figure of merit (zT) of 0.04 at 800 K is obtained in 2.0% Ni-CNTs/ZnO, which is three times larger than that of CNTs/ZnO prepared by traditional ultrasonic method. In addition, the mechanical properties of composites including Vickers hardness (HV) and fracture toughness (K IC) are also reinforced. This work provides a valuable reference for dispersing nano-phases in TE materials to enhance both TE and mechanical properties. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T09:55:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-41e178b5d305426b9b6b3547eac1c416 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2226-4108 2227-8508 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T09:55:18Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Tsinghua University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Advanced Ceramics |
| spelling | doaj.art-41e178b5d305426b9b6b3547eac1c4162023-09-02T12:12:39ZengTsinghua University PressJournal of Advanced Ceramics2226-41082227-85082022-11-0111121932194310.1007/s40145-022-0657-4In-situ growth of carbon nanotubes on ZnO to enhance thermoelectric and mechanical propertiesShengjie Fan0Tingting Sun1Meng Jiang2Shijia Gu3Lianjun Wang4Haixue Yan5Wan Jiang6State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua UniversityState Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua UniversityState Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua UniversityEngineering Research Center of Advanced Glasses Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Donghua UniversityState Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua UniversitySchool of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of LondonEngineering Research Center of Advanced Glasses Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, Donghua UniversityAbstract As a high-temperature thermoelectric (TE) material, ZnO offers advantages of non-toxicity, chemical stability, and oxidation resistance, and shows considerable promise as a true ready-to-use module under air conditions. However, poor electrical conductivity and high thermal conductivity severely hinder its application. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are often used as a reinforcing phase in composites, but it is difficult to achieve uniform dispersion of CNTs due to van der Waals forces. Herein, we developed an effective in-situ growth strategy of homogeneous CNTs on ZnO nanoparticles by exploiting the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technology, in order to improve their electrical conductivity and mechanical properties, as well as reducing the thermal conductivity. Meanwhile, magnetic nickel (Ni) nanoparticles are introduced as catalysts for promoting the formation of CNTs, which can also enhance the electrical and thermal transportation of ZnO matrices. Notably, the electrical conductivity of ZnO is significantly boosted from 26 to 79 S·cm−1 due to the formation of dense and uniform conductive CNT networks. The lattice thermal conductivity (κ L) is obviously declined by the intensification of phonon scattering, resulting from the abundant grain boundaries and interfaces in ZnO-CNT composites. Importantly, the maximum dimensionless figure of merit (zT) of 0.04 at 800 K is obtained in 2.0% Ni-CNTs/ZnO, which is three times larger than that of CNTs/ZnO prepared by traditional ultrasonic method. In addition, the mechanical properties of composites including Vickers hardness (HV) and fracture toughness (K IC) are also reinforced. This work provides a valuable reference for dispersing nano-phases in TE materials to enhance both TE and mechanical properties.https://doi.org/10.1007/s40145-022-0657-4ZnOcarbon nanotubes (CNTs)in-situ grownthermoelectric (TE)mechanical properties |
| spellingShingle | Shengjie Fan Tingting Sun Meng Jiang Shijia Gu Lianjun Wang Haixue Yan Wan Jiang In-situ growth of carbon nanotubes on ZnO to enhance thermoelectric and mechanical properties Journal of Advanced Ceramics ZnO carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in-situ grown thermoelectric (TE) mechanical properties |
| title | In-situ growth of carbon nanotubes on ZnO to enhance thermoelectric and mechanical properties |
| title_full | In-situ growth of carbon nanotubes on ZnO to enhance thermoelectric and mechanical properties |
| title_fullStr | In-situ growth of carbon nanotubes on ZnO to enhance thermoelectric and mechanical properties |
| title_full_unstemmed | In-situ growth of carbon nanotubes on ZnO to enhance thermoelectric and mechanical properties |
| title_short | In-situ growth of carbon nanotubes on ZnO to enhance thermoelectric and mechanical properties |
| title_sort | in situ growth of carbon nanotubes on zno to enhance thermoelectric and mechanical properties |
| topic | ZnO carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in-situ grown thermoelectric (TE) mechanical properties |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s40145-022-0657-4 |
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