Fuente: Journal of applied polymer Lugar: RESEARCH ARTICLE Schematic illustration of the fabrication of a CNF-tannic acid-SWCNT gel incorporated with a ChCl-EG DES for thermoelectric energy harvesting.


ABSTRACT
In this study, we aim to design a sustainable hybrid gel thermoelectric system with enhanced ionic thermoelectric performance and mechanical robustness. The hybrid gel was prepared by integrating cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix, where tannic acid served as an interfacial strengthener and borax as a crosslinking agent. The incorporation of a deep eutectic solvent (DES) significantly enhances ionic mobility, yielding a Seebeck coefficient of 4.00 mV K−1, a power factor of 115.09 μW m−1 K−2, and an ionic conductivity of 10.35 mS cm−1. Analytical results indicate that ionic diffusion is the dominant transport mechanism governing the improved thermoelectric response. Additionally, the CTC-X gels retain stable mechanical integrity and display self-healing behavior, contributing to multifunctional performance. Overall, this hybrid system demonstrates strong potential as an environmentally friendly thermoelectric material for efficient low-grade heat harvesting.