Developing Titanium Dioxide-Graphene Nanomaterials For Next Generation Thermoelectrics

Thermoelectric devices are capable of converting a temperature differential into usable electrical energy. This type of technology has been used since the 1960\u27s by the aerospace industry to provide long-duration, maintenance-free power to deep space probes, satellites and other spacecraft. However, current state-of-the-art face significant shortcomings as they are made of hazardous, rare, and expensive materials and require a large temperature differential in order to provide a mere 6-7% efficiency. As such, this work discusses the current progress of the development of a new nanocomposite for thermoelectric purposes with a heavy focus on understanding the effects of the nanostructures and interfaces on the thermoelectric properties. Titanium dioxide-graphene oxide thin film nanocomposites were fabricated through atomic layer deposition techniques. Deposition temperature and amount of titanium dioxide deposition were investigated for their effects on the nanostructures present and the resulting electrical conductivity and Hall measurements. A factorial design of experiments was employed in order to elucidate which, if any, of the parameters had the most significant effects on the observed properties