Development of an Anisotropic Thermal Transport Material
Abstract
The resources provided by this award allowed for the development of two thermally conductive nanofillers whose production at large scale was not previously possible. These fillers, pristine graphene and functionalized boron nitride, have high thermal conductivity coupled with an extreme aspect ratio, making them strong candidates for thermally conductive composites. In the past, the insolubility of pristine graphene required the use of either graphene oxide (GO) or reduced graphene oxide (rGO). While providing solubility, the oxidation also severely reduced the thermal conductivity of the material. The methods developed in the work supported by this grant allow for the use of un-oxidized and un-damaged graphene for thermal composites and include the use of a self-assembling solvent mixture and an interfacial trapping method. Boron nitride was exfoliated for the first time in large quantities. Boron nitride, unlike graphite, is electrically insulating and thus is a complimentary material to graphene. A thermal functionalization and exfoliation procedure was developed and a manuscript describing the work is currently being reviewed. Together, these new materials provide the foundation for a new class of thermally conductive composite materials. Details of the work preformed are available in the archival publications and PhD thesis supported by the award.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 13, 2014
- Accession Number
- ADA594404
Entities
People
- Andrew J. Oyer
- Douglas H. Adamson
Organizations
- University of Connecticut