Electron localization enhanced thermoelectric power in CNT film with nanopatterning

In thermoelectricity, maximum power and efficiency of the thermoelectric device is the key issue of its commercialization. One of the strategies for increasing efficiency of thermoelectric material is creating nano-mesh structure or corrugated surface structure, which introduces electron-phonon decoupling.[1,2] In order to study how this strategy affect the thermoelectric power (Seebeck coefficient) of the carbon nanotube (CNT) films, nano-mesh structure of CNT film is fabricated by reactive ion etching (RIE) using nanoporous anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane as a mask. The effect of nano-mesh structure in CNT film will be discussed with thermopower, electrical property and optical analysis.