ABSTRACT
This chapter is on manufacturing multicomponent organic/ inorganic composite materials containing nanotubes, nanofibers, and nanoparticles by nanocasting for energy conversion. The effect of combined electric, magnetic, and/or mechanical forces on the distribution of nanoscale particles, tubes, or fibers in matrix materials is discussed. The manufactured composite materials are tested for thermoelectric energy conversion. The nanocasting manufacturing process during which electromagnetic and mechanical actions coexist is introduced first. Then characterization of the properties of the thermoelectric materials with multiple components and complex structures is performed. Semiconducting polymer (polyaniline, PANI)–based multilayer composite nanofibers or nanorods in carbon-doped titania nanotubes are made by the nanocasting manufacturing technique. The titania nanotube template serves as the casting mold for electromagnetic forceassisted centrifugal nanocasting. Self-organized titania nanotubes are made by electrochemical oxidation of pure titanium in a solution containing fluorine ions. High-temperature heat treatment is conducted to dope titania nanotubes with carbon. Also introduced is a multilayered cobalt oxide nanotube-loaded titania coaxial nanorod composite made by nanocasting. The Seebeck coefficient of the nanorod composite materials is measured.
