Nanoengineered thermal materials based on carbon nanotube array composites

US7784531B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Jun Li · Norwood, US
• Meyya Meyyappan · San Jose, US
• Carlos Dangelo · Los Gatos, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 27, 2007
• Grant date: Aug 31, 2010
• Expiry date: Aug 3, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01L2924/15312
• WIPO field: Micro-structural and nano-technology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

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.