Bendable n-Type Metallic Nanocomposites with Large Thermoelectric Power Factor

Highly bendablen-type thermoelectric nanocomposites are successfully developed by embedding metallic Ni nanowires within an insulating poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) matrix in solution. These nanocomposites exhibit an abnormal decoupling of the electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient as a function of Ni contents. A maximum power factor of 220 mu W m(-1) K-2 and ZT of 0.15 can thus be obtained with 80 wt% Ni at 380 K.