Kono, Junichiro2020-06-052020-06-052020-082020-05-18August 202Komatsu, Natsumi. "Macroscopically Aligned Carbon Nanotubes: Preparation and Flexible Thermoelectric Applications." (2020) Master’s Thesis, Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/108775">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/108775</a>.https://hdl.handle.net/1911/108775Ever since the discovery of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), it has long been a challenging goal to create macroscopically ordered assemblies, or crystals, of CNTs that preserve extraordinary properties of individual CNTs on a macroscopic scale. Recently, a method to fabricate wafer-scale aligned CNT films via controlled vacuum filtration and a method to produce fibers of aligned CNTs through solution spinning have been developed. We first discuss parameters behind CNT alignment formation during vacuum filtration. We found that parallel grooves pre-existing on the surface of the filter membrane dictates the direction of the resulting CNT alignment, and further developed a method to imprint periodically spaced parallel grooves. We then discuss the thermoelectric properties of aligned CNT fibers. Thanks to the ultra-high electrical conductivity, we observed the highest p-type power factor at room temperature. Our finding provides a route for a powerful, mechanically robust, light weight, and non-toxic wearable thermoelectric devices.application/pdfengCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.Carbon nanotubesAlignmentThermoelectric devicesThesis2020-06-05