University of Limerick

Fundacion Imdea Materiales

Mario Culebras Rubio

Maurice N Collins

Patrick Terence Mcgrail

Juan Jose Vilatela

Anne Beaucamp Mcloughlin

A thermoelectric material comprising carbon nanotubes and lignin. The carbon nanotubes are present as fibres and the lignin is present in pores and/or voids in the carbon nanotube fibres. The lignin may act as a dopant to increase the thermoelectric efficiency of the carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes in particular. A method of forming a thermoelectric material involving impregnating fibres of carbon nanotubes with lignin, is also provided. A thermoelectric element, a fabric and a thermoelectric device comprising the thermoelectric material are also provided. The thermoelectric material may be particularly useful for the production of wearable thermoelectric devices.

Thermoelectric materials

Carbon fibre precursors for use in the formation of carbon fibre materials. The carbon fibre precursors comprise fibres of polymeric material which have a coating layer thereon, the coating layer comprising a material susceptible to dielectric heating, for example carbon nanotubes. The carbon fibre precursors may be suitable for forming into carbon fibres using a dielectric heating step, despite the fibres of polymeric material not being susceptible to dielectric heating, without adversely affecting the structure and physical properties of the main body of the carbon fibre so formed. A method of preparing a carbon fibre precursor for a carbon fibre formation process and a method forming a carbon fibre are also disclosed.

Relating to carbon fibre processing

A composition for use in the formation of a lignin-based carbon fibre precursor is disclosed. The composition is a blend of a lignin and at least 10 wt % of a thermoplastic elastomer. The thermoplastic elastomer may improve the mechanical properties of the lignin-based blend to the extent that conventional carbon fibre precursor formation processes can be carried out using the blend whereas said processes would have been problematic and/or failed when using only lignin to form the carbon fibre precursors. The thermoplastic elastomer is suitably a thermoplastic polyurethane. A carbon fibre precursor produced using the composition is also disclosed, as is a carbon fibre produced from said carbon fibre precursors. Methods of forming said carbon fibre precursors and carbon fibres are also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Limerick, Ireland

Mario Culebras Rubio