Abstract
The interface engineering between carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is a key to enhance the thermal conductivity of CNT assembled materials to match the trend of microelectronics miniaturization. In this study, according to the experimental finding of polymer-promoted CNT intertube heat transport, we reveal that there is a strong dependence of heat conductance on the orientation of polymer chain, corresponding to an effect of thermal switch knob. When the soft long-chain polyethylene molecular chains are placed in the grooves on both sides of two parallel CNTs at θ=30–60∘, flattening deformation will occur at the CNT contacts, and multi-point enhancement of vibrational density of states in 2.5–12 THz frequency range and a redshift of 3 THz for the frequencies are observed. These two phenomena point to a strong enhancement of the phonon coupling at the CNT contact, which is verified by 120% boost of the interfacial thermal conductance for the across-tube thermal transport.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
