Elaborate manipulation on CNT intertube heat transport by using a polymer knob

The interface engineering between carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is a key to enhance the thermal conductivity of CNT assembled materials to match the trend of microelectronics miniaturization. In this study, according to the experimental finding of polymer-promoted CNT intertube heat transport, we reveal that there is a strong dependence of heat conductance on the orientation of polymer chain, corresponding to an effect of thermal switch knob . When the soft long-chain polyethylene molecular chains are placed in the grooves on both sides of two parallel CNTs at theta = 30 -60 degrees, flattening deformation will occur at the CNT contacts, and multi-point enhancement of vibrational density of states in 2.5-12 THz frequency range and a redshift of 3 THz for the frequencies are observed. These two phenomena point to a strong enhancement of the phonon coupling at the CNT contact, which is verified by 120% boost of the interfacial thermal conductance for the across-tube thermal transport. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, the relationship between thermal conductivity and the orientation of polymer chains in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was investigated. It was found that the thermal conductance is strongly dependent on the orientation of polymer chain, leading to an enhancement of the phonon coupling at the CNT contact and an increase in the interfacial thermal conductance for thermal transport across the tubes.