A Paper-Like Inorganic Thermal Interface Material Composed of Hierarchically Structured Graphene/Silicon Carbide Nanorods

Abstract

With the increasing integration of devices in electronics fabrication, there are growing demands for thermal interface materials (TIMs) with high through-plane thermal conductivity for efficiently solving thermal management issues. Graphene-based papers consisting of a layer-by-layer stacked architecture have been commercially used as lateral heat spreaders; however, they lack in-depth studies on their TIM applications due to the low through-plane thermal conductivity (<6 W m–1 K–1). In this study, a graphene hybrid paper (GHP) was fabricated by the intercalation of silicon source and the in situ growth of SiC nanorods between graphene sheets based on the carbothermal reduction reaction. Due to the formation of covalent C–Si bonding at the graphene–SiC interface, the GHP possesses a superior through-plane thermal conductivity of 10.9 W m–1 K–1 and can be up to 17.6 W m–1 K–1 under packaging conditions at 75 psi. Compared with the current graphene-based papers, our GHP has the highest through-plane thermal conductivity value. In the TIM performance test, the cooling efficiency of the GHP achieves significant improvement compared to that of state-of-the-art thermal pads. Our GHP with characteristic structure is of great promise as an inorganic TIM for the highly efficient removal of heat from electronic devices.

Allotrope carbon materials in thermal interface materials and fuel cell applications: A review

“…The excellent and special properties of graphene have led to outstanding performance in nanomaterials toward various nanofield applications, particularly in nanotechnology. These structures contain carbon atoms in single layer formation (graphene) called nanosheets, which are highly stable, have very light weight, and are favorable composite for matrix materials . Their derivatives, such as GO, RGO, and SGO, are more compatible with other materials and are easy to integrate in various applications .…”

“…Their derivatives, such as GO, RGO, and SGO, are more compatible with other materials and are easy to integrate in various applications . The structure of graphene materials, for example, graphene flakes and 3D stacking graphene, is important for the enhancement of thermal conductivity, especially through blending with other materials …”

“…These structures contain carbon atoms in single layer formation (graphene) called nanosheets, which are highly stable, have very light weight, and are favorable composite for matrix materials. 80,98 Their derivatives, such as GO, RGO, and SGO, are more compatible with other materials and are easy to integrate in various applications. 99 The structure of graphene materials, for example, graphene flakes and 3D stacking graphene, is important for the enhancement of thermal conductivity, especially through blending with other materials.…”

“…99 The structure of graphene materials, for example, graphene flakes and 3D stacking graphene, is important for the enhancement of thermal conductivity, especially through blending with other materials. 98,[100][101][102][103][104] A series of studies investigated paper-based TIMs with cellulose in composite with functionalized graphene. Song et al integrated nanofibrillated cellulose and graphene nanosheets for thermal management.…”

Hybrid Graphene Nanocomposites: Thermal Interface Materials and Functional Energy Materials

“…The use of inorganic matrices is proposed in [61]. Hybrid paper with graphene/ SiC (graphene hybrid paper, GHP) was developed by an easy and easily scalable filtration method followed by rapid heat treatment to grow SiC nanorods in situ between graphene sheets based on the carbothermic reduction reaction.…”