Functionalized carbon nanotubes as phase change materials with enhanced thermal, electrical conductivity, light-to-thermal, and electro-to-thermal performances. (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cao, Ruirui; Chen, Sai; Wang, Yuzhou; Han, Na; Liu, Haihui; Zhang, Xingxiang
• Is Part Of: Carbon. Volume 149(2019)
• Page Start: 263
• Page End: 272
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: Carbon -- Periodicals; Carbone -- Périodiques; Koolstof; Toepassingen; Electronic journals; 546.681
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2019.04.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-6223

Abstract

Abstract: Light- and electro-driven hexadecyl acrylate-functionalized single/multi-wall carbon nanotubes (HDA- g -SWCNT, HDA- g -MWCNT) solid-solid phase change materials (SSPCMs) were fabricated via a green Diels-Alder reaction. Both HDA- g -SWCNT and HDA- g -MWCNT show enhanced thermal and electrical conductivities, appropriate phase change temperature, almost no supercooling degree and effective phase change enthalpy. HDA was covalently grafted onto the surface of SWCNT/MWCNT. The phase transition enthalpy (Δ H h ) and phase transition temperature ( T hp ) in the heating process, crystallization enthalpy (Δ H c ) and crystallization temperature ( T cp ) in the cooling process of HDA- g -SWCNT are 52 J/g, 36.7 °C, 51 J/g, and 23.7 °C, respectively. The Δ H h, T hp, Δ H c, and T cp of HDA- g -SWCNT are 40 J/g, 38.0 °C, 39 J/g, and 26.8 °C, respectively. The HDA- g -SWCNT/HDA- g -MWCNT can effectively convert electric or light energy into thermal energy under electric field or solar illumination. Meanwhile, the electrical conductivity of HDA- g -SWCNT and HDA- g -MWCNT films reached up to 718 and 389 S/m, respectively. The phase change property and enhanced thermal conductivity of HDA- g -SWCNT and HDA- g -MWCNT enable them to be used as a heat spreader for electronic cooling applications. Furthermore, the HDA- g -SWCNT and HDA- g -MWCNT exhibited good thermal stability, great thermal reliability, and shape stability, potentially leading to new energy systems with multi-responsive performance for electronic devices, solar energy utilization, and thermal management. Graphical abstract: Image 1