Graphene-Assisted Thermal Interface Materials with a Satisfied Interface Contact Level Between the Matrix and Fillers

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Thermal Engineering

Background:

• Thermal interface materials (TIMs) are crucial for managing heat in electronic devices.
• Graphene-based materials offer promising thermal conductivity enhancements.
• Optimizing filler-matrix interactions is key to improving TIM performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the thermal and mechanical properties of TIMs.
• To investigate the role of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) surface functional groups in phonon transport.
• To develop high-performance TIMs using RGO and 3D graphene networks (3DGNs).

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of RGO with varying surface functional groups, including carboxyl groups.
• Fabrication of TIMs incorporating RGO and 3DGNs within an epoxy resin (ER) matrix.
• Characterization of thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of the developed TIMs.

Main Results:

• 3DGNs established efficient phonon transport pathways.
• RGO, particularly with carboxyl groups, acted as a bridge to enhance interfacial phonon transport.
• Optimized TIMs achieved a thermal conductivity of 6.7 Wm⁻¹K⁻¹, a 3250% increase over pristine ER.
• TIMs utilizing RGO(OOH) filler exhibited superior mechanical properties.

Conclusions:

• Surface functionalization of RGO, specifically with carboxyl groups, is critical for maximizing thermal performance in TIMs.
• The synergistic use of RGO and 3DGNs creates highly effective thermal pathways.
• The developed graphene-based TIMs show significant potential for advanced thermal management applications.