High figure-of-merit for ZnO nanostructures by interfacing lowly-oxidized graphene quantum dots

Myungwoo Choi, Juyoung An, Hyejeong Lee, Hanhwi Jang, Ji Hong Park, Donghwi Cho, Jae Yong Song, Seung Min Kim, Min-Wook Oh, Hosun Shin () and Seokwoo Jeon ()
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Myungwoo Choi: Korea University
Juyoung An: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
Hyejeong Lee: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science
Hanhwi Jang: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
Ji Hong Park: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
Donghwi Cho: Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology
Jae Yong Song: Pohang University of Science and Technology
Seung Min Kim: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
Min-Wook Oh: Hanbat National University
Hosun Shin: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science
Seokwoo Jeon: Korea University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Thermoelectric technology has potential for converting waste heat into electricity. Although traditional thermoelectric materials exhibit extremely high thermoelectric performances, their scarcity and toxicity limit their applications. Zinc oxide (ZnO) emerges as a promising alternative owing to its high thermal stability and relatively high Seebeck coefficient, while also being earth-abundant and nontoxic. However, its high thermal conductivity (>40 W m−1K−1) remains a challenge. In this study, we use a multi-step strategy to achieve a significantly high dimensionless figure-of-merit (zT) value of approximately 0.486 at 580 K (estimated value) by interfacing graphene quantum dots with 3D nanostructured ZnO. Here, we show the fabrication of graphene quantum dots interfaced 3D ZnO, yielding the highest zT value ever reported for ZnO counterparts; specifically, our experimental results indicate that the fabricated 3D GQD@ZnO exhibited a significantly low thermal conductivity of 0.785 W m−1K−1 (estimated value) and a remarkably high Seebeck coefficient of $$-$$ − 556 μV K−1 at 580 K.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46182-2

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