Enhanced thermoelectric properties of tungsten oxide-reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites

Metal oxide as a thermoelectric material has shown great attention in recent years due to its outstanding thermal and chemical stability, good oxidation resistance, low cost, etc. This article reports the successful synthesis of tungsten oxide (WO3) nanoparticles and tungsten oxide-reduced graphene oxide (WO3-rGO) nanocomposites and studies of their thermoelectric properties. The structural characteristics of the WO3 nanoparticles and WO3-rGO nanocomposites were examined using XRD and Raman techniques. At 313 K, WO3-rGO nanocomposites exhibit an - 8.8 times enhancement in the thermoelectric material figure of merit (zT). These excellent performances are further supported by up to - 13.7 times enhanced electrical conductivity and a - 56% reduction in thermal conductivity compared to WO3 nanoparticles. It has been concluded that reduce graphene oxide helps in forming a conducting pathway in the WO3-rGO nanocomposites, allowing the easy passage of charge carriers in the matrix.