Structuring thermal transport in pristine graphene with h-BN nanorings

Structuring graphene has led to a wealth of opportunities to enhance or at least to alter its electronic, optical and thermal properties. E.g, punching holes in graphene in the form antidot lattices turns the base material from a semimetal into a semiconductor. In here, we aim at leaving graphene pristine, but instead growing h-BN nanorings on top of it with the desire to alleviate heat spread by virtue of a reduced thermal conductivity. By combining empirical molecular dynamics and Green-Kubo simulations, we predict that using thinner nanorings leads to rapidly decaying heat currents and therefore remarkably reduced thermal conductivities by 76% in comparison to graphene. Interestingly, we also argue how an applied electric field breaks the underlying crystal symmetry enabling directionally tunable thermal transport. We foresee exciting possibilities to subdue optical and plasmonic loss channels by reduced thermal dissipation.

Automated summary

Structuring graphene can enhance or alter its electronic, optical, and thermal properties. One approach is to punch holes in graphene to form antidot lattices, which transforms it from a semimetal to a semiconductor. In this study, we grow h-BN nanorings on graphene to reduce thermal conductivity. Through simulations, we find that thinner nanorings lead to significantly reduced thermal conductivities by 76% compared to graphene. Additionally, we discuss how an applied electric field can break crystal symmetry and enable directionally tunable thermal transport, providing exciting possibilities to reduce thermal dissipation and enhance other properties.