Breaking Thermal Conductivity-Electrical Resistivity Trade-Off in Liquid Metal-Based Thermal Interface Materials via...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• Liquid metal thermal interface materials (TIMs) possess excellent thermal conductivity and fluidity.
• However, their practical use is hindered by low electrical resistivity, creating a thermal-electrical trade-off.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer an interface strategy to overcome the thermal-electrical trade-off in liquid metal TIMs.
• To synthesize and characterize a novel material, GaIn-B, with simultaneous high thermal conductivity and electrical insulation.

Main Methods:

• Interface engineering strategy utilizing a bimodal particle size distribution.
• Synthesis of Gallium-Indium-Boron (GaIn-B) composite.
• Development of a phenomenological model based on effective medium theory.

Main Results:

• GaIn-B exhibits a bimodal particle structure preventing electrical percolation while maintaining thermal transport.
• Achieved a thermal conductivity of ~16 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹.
• Demonstrated electrical resistivity exceeding 10¹¹ ohm cm, effectively breaking the trade-off.

Conclusions:

• The developed interface engineering strategy successfully decouples thermal and electrical properties in liquid metal TIMs.
• GaIn-B presents a scalable solution for high-performance TIMs in industrial applications.
• The phenomenological model accurately predicts the conditions for mitigating the thermal-electrical trade-off.