Thermoelectric materials and related compositions and methods

Abstract

A thermoelectric material includes a polymer matrix and a plurality of partially coated particles dispersed within the polymer matrix. Each particle of the plurality has a discontinuous coating of metal on a carbon-based material. A method includes dispersing functionalized particles comprising a carbon-based material in a solvent; providing a metal salt in the solvent; and forming a plurality of distinct metal volumes on a surface of the functionalized particles to form partially coated particles. The distinct metal volumes are thermally insulated from other volumes of the plurality. A composition of matter includes a discontinuous coating of metal on a surface of a carbon-based material. The carbon-based material is selected from the group consisting of graphene oxide and functionalized carbon nanotubes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 dispersing functionalized particles comprising a carbon-based material in a solvent;   providing a metal salt in the solvent; and   forming a plurality of distinct metal volumes on a surface of the functionalized particles to form partially coated particles, the distinct metal volumes thermally insulated from other volumes of the plurality.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising dispersing the partially coated particles within a polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising oxidizing a carbon-based material to form the functionalized particles. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising reacting a metal of the metal salt with a surface of the functionalized particles. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising reducing a metal of the metal salt on the surface of the functionalized particles. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing the solvent from the partially coated particles after forming the plurality of distinct metal volumes on the surface of the functionalized particles. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein dispersing functionalized particles in a solvent comprises subjecting the functionalized particles and the solvent to ultrasonic energy. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forming a powder comprising the partially coated particles. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functionalized particles comprise functional groups on the carbon-based material, wherein the metal salt comprises cations, and wherein the method further comprises adsorbing the cations to the functional groups. 
     
     
         10 . A composition of matter, comprising:
 a discontinuous coating of metal on a surface of a carbon-based material selected from the group consisting of graphene oxide and functionalized carbon nanotubes.   
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the discontinuous coating comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, copper, and silver. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the discontinuous coating comprises a plurality of thermally insulated islands of metal over the surface. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the composition exhibits a thermal conductivity of less than 10 −2  mW/cm·K. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the composition exhibits an electrical conductivity of at least 0.005 S/cm. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein the composition exhibits a Seebeck coefficient of at least 1000 μV/K.