Anomalous Thermal Conduction Characteristics of Phase Change Composites with Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Inclusions

We report strikingly large contrasts in the thermal conductivity enhancement of phase change alkane in liquid and solid state with single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) inclusions. With a small SWCNT loading of 0.25 wt % a strikingly high, 250% enhancement is achieved in the solid state and a nominal enhancement of 10% is achieved in the liquid state. The thermal conductivity contrast between solid and liquid state was found to increase with increasing SWCNT loading. The thermal conductivity contrast was more pronounced in the presence of SWCNTs compared to the presence of exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets reported in the literature.