Thermal conduction phenomena in carbon nanotubes and related nanostructured materials

Amy M. Marconnet, Matthew A. Panzer, and Kenneth E. Goodson
Rev. Mod. Phys. 85, 1295 – Published 16 August 2013

Abstract

The extremely high thermal conductivities of carbon nanotubes have motivated a wealth of research. Progress includes innovative conduction metrology based on microfabricated platforms and scanning thermal probes as well as simulations exploring phonon dispersion and scattering using both transport theory and molecular dynamics. This article highlights these advancements as part of a detailed review of heat conduction research on both individual carbon nanotubes and nanostructured films consisting of arrays of nanotubes or disordered nanotube mats. Nanotube length, diameter, and chirality strongly influence the thermal conductivities of individual nanotubes and the transition from primarily diffusive to ballistic heat transport with decreasing temperature. A key experimental challenge, for both individual nanotubes and aligned films, is the separation of intrinsic and contact resistances. Molecular dynamics simulations have studied the impacts of specific types of imperfections on the nanotube conductance and its variation with length and chirality. While the properties of aligned films fall short of predictions based on individual nanotube data, improvements in surface engagement and postfabrication nanotube quality are promising for a variety of applications including mechanically compliant thermal contacts.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
9 More
  • Received 2 March 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.85.1295

© 2013 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Amy M. Marconnet*, Matthew A. Panzer, and Kenneth E. Goodson

  • Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA

  • *Present address: School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, 585 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. amarconn@purdue.edu
  • Present address: KLA-Tencor Corporation, 1 Technology Drive, Milpitas, CA 95035, USA.
  • goodson@stanford.edu

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 85, Iss. 3 — July - September 2013

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Reviews of Modern Physics

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×