ScholarWorks@성균관대학교

초록

Efficient thermal interface materials (TIMs) are critical for heat dissipation in high-power-density miniaturized electronics, yet experimental validation of the thermal-bridging effect of metallic nanoparticles at CNT–CNT junctions in practical TIM systems remains limited. In this study, Au-decorated multiwalled carbon nanotube (Au-MWCNT)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanocomposite films were fabricated and evaluated as high-performance TIMs. Au nanoparticles were deposited on MWCNTs via a seeding-growth method and dispersed in PVA matrix. Thermal conductivity of films increased with Au-MWCNT loading, reaching 1.784 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹ at 15 wt.% filler content, exceeding theoretical predictions based on a volume fraction-weighted model. Au-MWCNT/PVA films showed thermal reliability under 12 h of power cycling, with only a 2.3% change in thermal conductivity. These results, supported by MD simulations, validate Au nanoparticles bridge adjacent nanotubes by reducing intertube contact resistance and phonon scattering, enhancing thermal transport. Results show Au-decorated MWCNT/PVA nanocomposites enhance thermal conductivity and durability, providing guidance for nanoparticle-engineered TIM design.

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