Thermal conductivity of graphene-based polymer nanocomposites

Xingyi Huang, Chunyi Zhi, Ying Lin, Hua Bao, Guangning Wu, Pingkai Jiang, Yiu Wing Mai

Research output: Journal article publicationReview articleAcademic researchpeer-review

274 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

As a material possessing extremely high thermal conductivity, graphene has been considered as the ultimate filler for fabrication of highly thermally conductive polymer composites. In the past decade, graphene and its derivatives were demonstrated in many studies to be very effective in enhancing the thermal conductivity of various polymers. This paper reviews current progress in the development of graphene/polymer composites with high thermal conductivity. We began with the effects of isotopes, defects/doping, edges and substrate, polycrystallinity, functionalization, size and layer number, and folding/twisting on the thermal conductivity of graphene. We then modelled the thermal conductivity of graphene/polymer composites and, through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, demonstrated its dependence on interfacial thermal conductance as well as size, dispersion and volume fraction of graphene. After a critique of recent studies on thermally conductive graphene/polymer composites and their potential applications, we identified several outstanding issues, new challenges and opportunities for future endeavours.

Original languageEnglish
Article number100577
JournalMaterials Science and Engineering R: Reports
Volume142
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Graphene
  • Polymer composites
  • Surface modification
  • Thermal conductivity

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering

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