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Item type:Publication, Enhancement of thermoelectric performance and mechanical reliability in electrodeposited chitosan nanofiber-bismuth telluride nanocomposite(2026-07-01) ;Tian, Jianghan ;Gobpant, Jakrit ;Van Toan, Nguyen ;Theekhasuk, NattharikaPham, Cong KhaThermoelectric generators (TEGs) offer a promising route for converting waste heat into electrical energy; however, the practical implementation of high-performance micro-TEGs (μTEGs) is limited by the material performance and mechanical fragility of thick bismuth telluride (Bi<inf>2</inf>Te<inf>3</inf>) films. Although thick thermoelectric layers are required to sustain sufficient temperature gradients, conventional fabrication often induces residual stress, leading to cracking and structural failure. In this work, we introduce a sustainable synthesis strategy by incorporating bio-derived chitosan nanofibers (ChNFs) into the electrodeposition process. The amino and hydroxyl functional groups of ChNFs promote interfacial bonding and nucleation, enabling the rapid growth of dense, crack-free composite films with thicknesses up to 1000 μm. The introduction of ChNFs also creates abundant phonon-scattering interfaces, significantly reducing lattice thermal conductivity from 1.48 to 0.29 W m<sup>−1</sup> K<sup>−1</sup> and resulting in a 303% increase in the room-temperature figure of merit (ZT), from 0.12 to 0.50. At an optimal loading of 0.0123 wt%, the composite films exhibit a 15% increase in hardness while maintaining structural integrity. These results demonstrate a multifunctional materials design strategy that simultaneously enhances thermoelectric performance, mechanical robustness, and fabrication scalability. The ChNF–Bi<inf>2</inf>Te<inf>3</inf> nanocomposites provide a viable green pathway for developing reliable thick films for next-generation self-powered electronics and compact waste-heat harvesting systems.
