RESUMO

Aggregated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were treated by using a concentrated acid to enhance their dispersibility. A self-organized pellet which is reversibly dispersible was produced after heating and dehydrating of the aqueous suspension of the treated CNTs. SEM, XRD, FTIR, XPS, and Raman spectra were used to analyze the characteristics of this pellet. The CNT pellet was further heated at 1100 °C for 1 hour to remove organic residue of chemical treatment. The thermal diffusivity α of this heated pellet was measured by a laser flash technique. DSC was used to measure the specific heat C_p and the thermal conductivity λ was calculated by the correlation of λ = αρC_p. The electrical conductivity σ was determined by four-point measurements. The thermo-electrical power (TEP) was further measured by applying a temperature difference at the two surfaces of the CNT pellet. Its thermal and electrical performances were investigated and the mechanism was discussed.