Aluminum/Graphene Thermal Interface Materials with Positive Temperature Dependence.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Thermal Engineering

Background:

• Graphene possesses high in-plane thermal conductivity, making it suitable for thermal interface materials (TIMs).
• The limited through-plane thermal conductivity of graphene hinders its application in TIMs.
• Developing strategies to enhance through-plane thermal conductivity is crucial for advanced TIMs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple in situ method for preparing graphene-based composites with enhanced through-plane thermal conductivity.
• To investigate the temperature-dependent thermal properties of these novel composites.
• To explore the potential of these composites as superior heat dissipation materials.

Main Methods:

• An in situ growth method was employed to load aluminum (Al) nanoparticles onto graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs).
• Thermal diffusivity and specific heat capacity were measured using a laser-flash analyzer and differential scanning calorimetry.
• The through-plane thermal conductivity (k⊥) was evaluated at various temperatures.

Main Results:

• The Al nanoparticles effectively bridged graphene nanoplatelets, significantly enhancing k⊥.
• The 1.3-Al/GNPs composite achieved a k⊥ of 11.70 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹ at 25 °C.
• A unique positive temperature-dependent k⊥ was observed, reaching 20.93 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹ at 100 °C.

Conclusions:

• The developed Al/GNPs composites exhibit exceptional heat transport properties.
• The enhanced k⊥ and temperature-dependent behavior offer a promising pathway for advanced graphene-based TIMs.
• This study provides valuable insights into designing high-performance thermal management materials.