A hierarchically modified fibre-reinforced polymer composite laminate with graphene nanotube coatings operating as an efficient thermoelectric generator (original) (raw)

In this study, a multifunctional, hierarchically modified glass fiber-reinforced polymer composite laminate (GFRP) capable of harvesting thermoelectric energy is fabricated and demonstrated. The fibrous reinforcements were hierarchically patterned with alternate n-and p-type graphene nanotube (singlewalled carbon nanotube-SWCNT) aqueous dispersions, which were printed via ink dispensing processes. The optimal n-and p-type resin-impregnated printed films demonstrate high power factors of 82 and 96 mW m À1 K À2 , respectively, and excellent stability in air. The manufactured GFRP-based graphene thermoelectric generator (GTEG) has the capability to stably function up to 125 1C under ambient conditions (1 atm, RH: 50 AE 5% RH). Printed SWCNT-based thermoelectric (TE) modules were successfully designed and fabricated onto a glass fiber fabric substrate with remarkable properties of ntype and p-type TE thin films resulting in exceptionally high performance. The thermoelectrically functionalized GFRP exhibits excellent stability during operation with obtained TE values of an open circuit voltage V OC = 1.01 V, short circuit current I SC = 850 mA, internal resistance R TEG = 1188 Ohm, and a generated power output P max = 215 mW at DT = 100 1C with T C = 25 1C. The novelty of this work is that it demonstrates for the first time a multilayered hierarchically modified carbon-based energyharvesting structural composite, capable of powering electronic devices such as a LED light from the power it generates when exposed to a temperature difference, and the overall results are among the highest ever presented in the field of energy-harvesting structural composites and printed carbon-based thermoelectrics. Both experimental measurements and simulations validated the TE performance. In addition, GFRP-GTEG showed a bending strength of 310 MPa and a flexural modulus of 21.3 GPa under room temperature (RT) and normal conditions (25 1C), retaining to a significant extent its mechanical properties while simultaneously providing the energy-harvesting capability. The aforementioned functional composite may be easily scaled-up, delivering potential for industrial-scale manufacturing of high-performance TEG-enabled structural composites.