Macroscopic weavable fibers of carbon nanotubes with giant thermoelectric power factor

Low-dimensional materials have recently attracted much interest as thermoelectric materials because of their charge carrier confinement leading to thermoelectric performance enhancement. Carbon nanotubes are promising candidates because of their one-dimensionality in addition to their unique advantages such as flexibility and light weight. However, preserving the large power factor of individual carbon nanotubes in macroscopic assemblies has been challenging, primarily due to poor sample morphology and a lack of proper Fermi energy tuning. Here, we report an ultrahigh value of power factor (14 +/- 5 mW m(-1) K-2) for macroscopic weavable fibers of aligned carbon nanotubes with ultrahigh electrical and thermal conductivity. The observed giant power factor originates from the ultrahigh electrical conductivity achieved through excellent sample morphology, combined with an enhanced Seebeck coefficient through Fermi energy tuning. We fabricate a textile thermoelectric generator based on these carbon nanotube fibers, which demonstrates high thermoelectric performance, weavability, and scalability. The giant power factor we observe make these fibers strong candidates for the emerging field of thermoelectric active cooling, which requires a large thermoelectric power factor and a large thermal conductivity at the same time. Preserving the large power factor of carbon nanotubes is challenging, due to poor sample morphology and a lack of proper Fermi energy tuning. Here, the authors achieve a value of power factor of 14 +/- 5 mW m(-1) K-2 originating from the preserved conductivity and the ability to tune Fermi energy.

Automated summary

Low-dimensional materials, particularly carbon nanotubes, have shown promising potential as thermoelectric materials due to their unique properties. The challenge lies in preserving their large power factor in macroscopic assemblies, which has been addressed in this study through improved sample morphology and Fermi energy tuning. The achieved ultrahigh power factor makes these carbon nanotube fibers strong candidates for applications requiring both high thermoelectric power factor and thermal conductivity.