Development of enhanced thermal interface materials for electronics and power module cooling application

Purpose and goal:

The goal of the project was to develop graphene-enhanced thermal interface materials (TIM) and verify the thermal performance for electronics cooling applications. By modification of graphene surface chemistry, optimizing graphene concentration and other parameters, a high quality graphene film was obtained. Thus, the film was used to prepare TIM, which showed high thermal conductivity with 10Kmm2/W in thermal resistance. This offers the possibility to produce graphene enhanced TIM directly via graphene film.

Expected results and effects:

A new method was successfully developed to prepare graphene-based films. Graphene-enhanced thermal interface materials (TIM) using this kind of film were successfully obtained with similar high thermal conductivity (70-90 W/mK compared to today-existing Smart High-Tech´s products. This interesting result will help to create a wider range applications for cooling of electronics products. This also makes it possible to further develop the graphene enhanced thermal interface material industry.

Approach and implementation:

The most important part of the project is to obtain stable homogenous solution of graphene oxide solution and graphene flakes solution and then to obtain graphene film with high thermal property. Surface property is important for the application of graphene flakes. We developed many methods to modify the surface of graphene flakes to make sure that graphene flakes could be well dispersed in water. Multi-functional and hydrophilic graphene flakes are the key to reach the goal.