Thermal conductance of single-walled carbon nanotube embedded in an elastic half-space

Calculations of ballistic thermal conductance of single-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) embedded in an elastic half-space are presented. The conductance is very different than the conductance of freestanding CNT due to change in phonon velocity and maximum cutoff frequency. Depending on the temperature, the conductance of embedded CNT can be higher or lower than that of freestanding CNT. Applications of the formulation are in CNT-based nanocomposites or CNT in contact with an elastic substrate. Good agreement with experimental thermal conductivity of nanocomposites made from single-walled CNT and epoxy is found. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.