Thermal conductivity of a single carbon nanocoil measured by field-emission induced thermal radiation

The spectrum of thermal radiation induced by field emission from a single carbon nanocoil (CNC) is obtained, from which its thermal conductivity is investigated. It is found that the resistivity of the CNC shows an exponential decrease with increasing temperature. The spectrum calculated by the temperature distribution along the CNC coincides with that calculated by the single maximum temperature in the wavelength range below 1250 nm, but shows considerable differences in intensity and peak position for higher wavelengths. Based on this understanding, the thermal conductivity of the CNC is evaluated to be 38 W/m K by a one-dimensional thermal conduction model. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.