Role of thermal boundary resistance on the heat flow in carbon-nanotube composites

The interfacial resistance for heat flow between a carbon nanotube and octane liquid was studied using the classical molecular dynamics simulations. A large value of interfacial resistance associated with weak coupling between the rigid tube structure and the soft organic liquid, was observed. The results of the simulations show that the tube-soft matrix interfacial thermal resistance is equivalent to the resistance of about 5- to 15-nm-thick layer of low conductivity matrix material. This indicates that the interface thermal resistance limits the thermal conductivity of carbon-nanotube polymer composites and organic suspensions.