A Simple Solvent Treatment to Modulate the Thermoelectric Properties of Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes over a Wide Range

ABSTRACT Demand for sustainable energy is growing, so generating energy from new, sustainable sources is becoming increasingly important. One approach is to utilize the thermoelectric (TE) effect, which involves sustainably generating electrical energy from waste heat. Single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) can be used as thermoelectric materials for this purpose. This study investigates how the solvents used to prepare self‐standing buckypapers affect the thermoelectric properties of two SWCNT types that differ in purity, structure, and thickness. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), elemental analysis, and Raman investigations revealed clear differences between the two types of SWCNTs. The Raman spectra also show various interactions between SWCNTs and solvents. It is determined that the type of solvent exerts a significant change on the Seebeck coefficient (S) of Tuball SWCNT buckypapers between 14.34 and 60.11 µV/K, while only minor alterations in the S value are detected in Zeonano SWCNT (47.69–67.24 µV/K). The volume conductivities of the buckypapers are influenced by both the solvent type and the SWCNT. The power factor varied between 7.94 and 397.52 µW/(m∙K 2 ).