Thermoelectric composite material of CuBO2 incorporated PANI powders with enhanced Seebeck coefficient

A Composite of PANI with CuBO2 has been prepared by a solid-state synthesis method and its thermoelectric performance has been studied. The PANI/CuBO2 composite mixture shows p-type conduction with exceptionally improved Seebeck coefficient (S) and electrical conductivity (σ) as well as thermoelectric power factor (P = S2σ). The outstanding enhancement in TE properties of the composite mixture is attributed to the reduction of π-π conjugated defects in the polymer chain matrix. The highest values of electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient for the prepared composite mixture reach 0.34 S/cm and 0.43 mV/°C, respectively, and the maximum TE power factor as recorded is 6.28 μW/mK2, which is about 107-fold larger in magnitude than that of pure PANI. The power factor as achieved at a comparatively lower temperature difference below 100 °C indicates that these powder mixtures of PANI/CuBO2 can be an effective material for better performance in thermoelectric energy harvesting from waste heat.