In this work, thermally insulating and electrically conductive aerogels were prepared from cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by environmentally friendly freeze-drying process. The thermal conductivity of neat CNF aerogel is 24 mW/(m·K) with a density of 0.025 g/cm3. With the addition of CNTs into CNF aerogel, the electrical conductivity was significantly increased while the thermal conductivity was increased to 38 mW/(m·K). Due to these interesting properties, the Seebeck coefficient and the figure of merit (ZT) of the CNF/CNTs aerogels were measured and showed that CNF/CNTs aerogel thermoelectric properties can be improved. The compressibility and electrical resistance of the CNF/CNTs aerogel highlighted its pressure-responsive property. A set of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were exposed to aerogels to monitor the resistance change. The CNF/CNTs aerogel showed high sensitivity and good response to both nonpolar and polar vapors due to the absorption by both CNF and CNTs networks. The prepared CNF/CNTs aerogel is therefore a good candidate for thermal insulation, thermoelectric material, VOCs sensing, and pressure-sensing applications.
Cite This Article
APA Style
Muthuraj, R., Sachan, A., Castro*, M., Feller, J., Seantier*, B. et al. (2018). Vapor and pressure sensors based on cellulose nanofibers and carbon nanotubes aerogel with thermoelectric properties. Journal of Renewable Materials, 6(3), 277-287. https://doi.org/10.7569/JRM.2017.634182
Vancouver Style
Muthuraj R, Sachan A, Castro* M, Feller J, Seantier* B, Grohens Y. Vapor and pressure sensors based on cellulose nanofibers and carbon nanotubes aerogel with thermoelectric properties. J Renewable Materials . 2018;6(3):277-287 https://doi.org/10.7569/JRM.2017.634182
IEEE Style
R. Muthuraj, A. Sachan, M. Castro*, J. Feller, B. Seantier*, and Y. Grohens "Vapor and Pressure Sensors Based on Cellulose Nanofibers and Carbon Nanotubes Aerogel with Thermoelectric Properties," J. Renewable Materials , vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 277-287. 2018. https://doi.org/10.7569/JRM.2017.634182