US 2007/0163769 A9 · NANOENGINEERED THERMAL MATERIALS BASED ON CARBON NANOTUBE ARRAY COMPOSITES

Abstract

A method for providing for thermal conduction using an array of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). An array of vertically oriented CNTs is grown on a substrate having high thermal conductivity, and interstitial regions between adjacent CNTs in the array are partly or wholly filled with a filler material having a high thermal conductivity so that at least one end of each CNT is exposed. The exposed end of each CNT is pressed against a surface of an object from which heat is to be removed. The CNT-filler composite adjacent to the substrate provides improved mechanical strength to anchor CNTs in place and also serves as a heat spreader to improve diffusion of heat flux from the smaller volume (CNTs) to a larger heat sink.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A method for providing for transport of thermal energy from an object, the method comprising:

providing an array of carbon nanotubes, referred to herein as “CNTs,” on a selected surface of a selected substrate having high thermal conductivity, where at least first and second CNTs in the array are oriented substantially perpendicular to the selected surface;
filling at least a portion of an interstitial space between at least two adjacent CNTs in the array with a selected filler material that has high thermal conductivity so that the filler material makes contact with the selected substrate surface at a first end of each of the at least first and second CNTs and a second end of each of the at least first and second CNTs is exposed and is not fully covered by the filler material;
and
causing the exposed second end of at least one of the first and second CNTs to make contact with a surface of an object for which transport of thermal energy is to be provided.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Nanoengineered thermal materials based on carbon nanotube array composites

Life of this patent

Nanoengineered thermal materials based on carbon nanotube array composites

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26