Aug 17 2021Reviewed by Alex Smith
Invisibly minute carbon nanotubes, drawn as fibers and sewn into fabrics, turn out to be a thermoelectric generator that can convert heat from the sun or other sources into energy.
Physicist Junichiro Kono from Rice University laboratory guided a team of scientists at Tokyo Metropolitan University (TMU) and the Rice-based Carbon Hub to develop tailored nanotubes and test their potential for large-scale applications.
The small-scale experiments of the researchers resulted in a fiber-improvised, flexible cotton fabric that converted heat into required energy to power an LED. Further improvements will enable the materials to form building blocks for fiber and textile electronics and energy harvesting. The same nanotube fibers can find application as heat sinks to actively cool sensitive devices with greater efficiency.
The study has been published in the journal Nature Communications.
The effect looked to be simple, where, if one side of thermoelectric material is hotter compared to the other, it generates energy. The heat may arrive from the Sun or other devices such as the hotplates that areemployed in the fabric experiment. In another way, adding energy can encourage the material to cool the hotter side.
So far, macroplastic assemblies of nanomaterials have not displayed the required, giant power factor of around 14 mW/mK2. This is the value quantified by the Rice researchers in carbon nanotube fibers.
The power factor tells you how much power density you can get out of a material upon certain temperature difference and temperature gradient.
Natsumi Komatsu, Study Lead Author and Graduate Student, Rice University
According to Komatsu, the power factor of a material is a joint effect achieved from its electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient, which is a measure of its potential to convert thermal differences into electricity.
The ultrahigh electrical conductivity of this fiber was one of the key attributes, added Komatsu. The source of this superpower also links to tuning the inherent Fermi energy of the nanotubes, which is a characteristic that determines the electrochemical potential.
The scientists were able to regulate the Fermi energy by chemically doping the nanotubes turned into fibers by the Rice University laboratory associated with Matteo Pasquali, who is the co-author and a chemical and biomolecular engineer, enablingthe researchers to tune the electronic properties of the fibers.
While the tested fibers were cut into centimeter lengths, Komatsu stated that there is no evidence to suggest that the devices cannot utilize the exceptional nanotube fibers from the Pasquali laboratory that are spooled in constant lengths.
No matter where you measure them, they have the same very high electrical conductivity. The piece I measured was small only because my setup isnt capable of measuring 50 m of fiber.
Natsumi Komatsu, Study Lead Author and Graduate Student, Rice University
Pasquali is the director of the Carbon Hub, which encourages expanding the enhancement of hydrogen and carbon materials in a way that also basically alters the global usage methods of fossil hydrocarbons.
Carbon nanotube fibers have been on a steady growth path and are proving advantageous in more and more applications. Rather than wasting carbon by burning it into carbon dioxide, we can fix it as useful materials that have further environmental benefits in electricity generation and transportation.
Matteo Pasquali, Study Co-Author and Chemical and Bio-Molecular Engineer, Rice University
Whether the new study results in a solar panel that people can dump in the washing machine remains to be seen, but Kono agreed the technology has huge and varied capabilities.
Nanotubes have been around for 30 years, and scientifically, a lot is known. But in order to make real-world devices, we need macroscopically ordered or crystalline assemblies. Those are the types of nanotube samples that Matteos group and my group can make, and there are many, many possibilities for applications, stated Pasquali.
The co-authors of the study are Rice graduate students Oliver Dewey, Lauren Taylorand Mitchell Trafford, and Geoff Wehmeyer, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering; and Yota Ichinose, Professor Yohei Yomogida, and Professor Kazuhiro Yanagi of Tokyo Metropolitan University.
Kono is the Karl F. Hasselmann Professor in Engineering and a professor of electrical and computer engineering, physics and astronomyand materials science and nanoengineering. Pasquali is the A.J. Hartsook Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and a professor of chemistry and materials science and nanoengineering.
This study was financially supported by the Department of Energy Basic Energy Science program, the National Science Foundation, the Robert A. Welch Foundation, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and the U.S. Air Force, and the Department of Defense.
Woven nanotubes make a thermoelectric generatorPlay
Woven nanotubes make a thermoelectric generator. Video Credit: Rice University.
Komatsu, N., et al. (2021) Macroscopic weavable fibers of carbon nanotubes with giant thermoelectric power factor. Nature Communications. doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-25208-z.
Source: https://www.rice.edu/
Read more here:
Scientists Develop Woven Nanotube Fibers Capable of Converting Heat into Energy - AZoNano
- Micro Manufacturing - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Modeling and Simulation - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Electron Microscopy - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Metrology - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Calibration Services - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Micro Engineering - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Nanotechnology - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Creating nano-structures from the bottom up - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- Wichita State hands out new round of high-tech grants - April 25th, 2012 [April 25th, 2012]
- URI Engineering Student Develops Self Healing Concrete - Video - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- NYS Senator Joseph A. Griffo Visits Clarkson University Nanoengineering - May 4th, 2012 [May 4th, 2012]
- Nano-subs built to grab and move oil spills - May 5th, 2012 [May 5th, 2012]
- Video: N.Y. lab creating jobs with nano-technology - May 5th, 2012 [May 5th, 2012]
- Nano-Subs Grab and Move Oil Spills - May 5th, 2012 [May 5th, 2012]
- University of Toronto Engineering Welcomes New NSERC Chair in Multidisciplinary Design - May 5th, 2012 [May 5th, 2012]
- Nano-Sensors for Explosive Detection -- University Collaboration Addresses Challenges in Explosive Detection - May 10th, 2012 [May 10th, 2012]
- Obama, Cuomo touring Nano college - May 10th, 2012 [May 10th, 2012]
- Obama, Cuomo bond over vision of economic future - May 10th, 2012 [May 10th, 2012]
- Kids visit Nano College after Obama - May 10th, 2012 [May 10th, 2012]
- Zyvex Technologies and ENVE Composites Introduce the World's First Nano-Enhanced Carbon Fiber ... - May 16th, 2012 [May 16th, 2012]
- Listen Now - May 16th, 2012 [May 16th, 2012]
- To Czech Industry, Everything Is Nano - May 23rd, 2012 [May 23rd, 2012]
- Availability of hydrogen controls chemical structure of graphene oxide - May 23rd, 2012 [May 23rd, 2012]
- Hydrogen Controls Chemical Structure of Graphene Oxide - May 23rd, 2012 [May 23rd, 2012]
- Shocking Technologies Raises Additional $10.5 Million From Circuit Protection Leader Littelfuse - May 23rd, 2012 [May 23rd, 2012]
- Nano-structured polymer-based materials from scrap - May 25th, 2012 [May 25th, 2012]
- Journal Tips from the American Institute of Physics: May 24, 2012 - May 25th, 2012 [May 25th, 2012]
- Synthetic nano-waste does not disappear - May 25th, 2012 [May 25th, 2012]
- Attacks on Nuclear and Nano Science - May 29th, 2012 [May 29th, 2012]
- Graphene quantum dots and nano-ribbons cleaved from graphene sheets - May 30th, 2012 [May 30th, 2012]
- Girls Inc.and SEFCU to provide internships at Nano College - May 31st, 2012 [May 31st, 2012]
- Nano technology improves health field - June 2nd, 2012 [June 2nd, 2012]
- Tiny satellites will use Kinect to dock with one another - June 4th, 2012 [June 4th, 2012]
- New nano-research leads to sensors that detect contaminants in water - June 6th, 2012 [June 6th, 2012]
- Editorial: State sets example on economy, bipartisanship - June 6th, 2012 [June 6th, 2012]
- MP girl ‘Gargi Pare’ brings laurels to State - June 6th, 2012 [June 6th, 2012]
- Element Six and Harvard University Collaboration on Nano-Engineered Synthetic Diamond Sets a New Quantum Information ... - June 8th, 2012 [June 8th, 2012]
- Business at a glance - June 10th, 2012 [June 10th, 2012]
- Inter American University of Puerto Rico Chooses Nanoprofessor as Foundation for New Nanoscience Education Program - June 11th, 2012 [June 11th, 2012]
- Nanoparticles found in moon glass bubbles explain weird lunar soil behaviour - June 13th, 2012 [June 13th, 2012]
- Nanoparticles found in moon glass bubbles explain weird lunar soil behavior - June 13th, 2012 [June 13th, 2012]
- Nanoparticles can solve mystery of Moon's topsoil - June 13th, 2012 [June 13th, 2012]
- Nano-Technologies Extended to Coax - June 15th, 2012 [June 15th, 2012]
- Shocking Technologies Raises Additional $10.5M From Circuit Protection Leader Littelfuse - June 15th, 2012 [June 15th, 2012]
- NIT-T professor gets over Rs. 2.15 crore to stall erosion in pipes - June 18th, 2012 [June 18th, 2012]
- Northeastern University Nanomanufacturing Center Director Ahmed Busnaina to Present Webinar on “The Democratization of ... - June 19th, 2012 [June 19th, 2012]
- NIT Silchar convocation - June 19th, 2012 [June 19th, 2012]
- Research and Markets: Government Initiative and High R&D Activities Drive the Nanotechnology Market in India - June 19th, 2012 [June 19th, 2012]
- Scientist unlocks the quantum secrets of the moon's bizarre soil, which hangs suspended above the surface when touched - June 20th, 2012 [June 20th, 2012]
- Nano-infused paint can detect strain - June 22nd, 2012 [June 22nd, 2012]
- "Proceedings of the IEEE" Hosts Centennial Engineering Innovation Forum in DC to Unveil Advanced Technologies ... - June 22nd, 2012 [June 22nd, 2012]
- Nanotech paint can show stress and strain - June 22nd, 2012 [June 22nd, 2012]
- Tatas developing an under $ 20,000 electric car - June 22nd, 2012 [June 22nd, 2012]
- Now, nano-infused paint to detect strain in buildings, bridges and airplanes - June 22nd, 2012 [June 22nd, 2012]
- Nano-sandwich technique slims down solar cells, improves efficiency - June 26th, 2012 [June 26th, 2012]
- Team develops world's most powerful nanoscale microwave oscillators - June 26th, 2012 [June 26th, 2012]
- UCLA-led research team develops world's most powerful nanoscale microwave oscillators - June 26th, 2012 [June 26th, 2012]
- Research and Markets: MEMS, NANO and Smart Systems - Selected papers from the 2011 7th International Conference on ... - June 27th, 2012 [June 27th, 2012]
- A step toward minute factories that produce medicine inside the body - June 28th, 2012 [June 28th, 2012]
- Green feel for collaboration with China - June 28th, 2012 [June 28th, 2012]
- Fibrous Protein Nanocomposites Conference - June 28th, 2012 [June 28th, 2012]
- Going For Gold: The Brains Behind Team GB - July 4th, 2012 [July 4th, 2012]
- NANO Connect Offers International Perspective With South Korean Nanotechnology Education Leader - October 4th, 2012 [October 4th, 2012]
- Hardide appoints a Business Development Manager - October 4th, 2012 [October 4th, 2012]
- Regenerative Medicine Biotech Company, Eqalix, Names Scientific Advisory Board - October 9th, 2012 [October 9th, 2012]
- Quinn uses nanotechnology summit to praise Wheeling High School - October 9th, 2012 [October 9th, 2012]
- Cal Poly Licenses CubeSat Technology to Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems - October 11th, 2012 [October 11th, 2012]
- Improving nanometer-scale manufacturing with infrared spectroscopy - October 11th, 2012 [October 11th, 2012]
- KYOCERA Introduces New Milling Cutters For CNC Machining Featuring Inserts with Proprietary MEGACOAT NANO Technology - October 16th, 2012 [October 16th, 2012]
- iFixit opens up the new iPod nano - October 16th, 2012 [October 16th, 2012]
- Call to assess safety of nano particles - October 16th, 2012 [October 16th, 2012]
- Special Program at SPE ANTEC® Mumbai Will Focus on Nano-Scale Carbonaceous Materials - October 16th, 2012 [October 16th, 2012]
- NUS launches Aerospace Systems initiative for engineering students - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Life After MESA - University of California, San Diego - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Toulouse, capitale européenne des nanotechnologies du 16 au 20 septembre 2012. - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Techno Frühstück - Correspondence of Heart and Beat - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- CVTC Engineering Programs Commercial - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- DISSECTED FROG - BIOLOGY LAB FOR NANO ENGINEERING - Video - October 30th, 2012 [October 30th, 2012]
- Renault looking to build an upmarket rival to the Tata Nano, but it will still be very cheap - December 5th, 2012 [December 5th, 2012]
- 'Nano' opens at Discovery Museums - December 8th, 2012 [December 8th, 2012]