Few layer graphene based superlattices as efficient thermal insulators

YX Ni and Y Chalopin and S Volz, APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, 103, 141905 (2013).

DOI: 10.1063/1.4824013

While graphene and few layer graphene (FLG) are considered as having the highest thermal conductivity in their in-plane directions, our molecular dynamics (MD) simulations however show that those systems are also characterized by a superior thermal contact resistance, which could be largely tuned with the layer number when in contact with a silica substrate. Taking advantages of such a resistive interface, MD simulations show that SiO2/FLG superlattices have a thermal conductivity as low as 0.30W/mK, exhibiting a promising prospect in nano-scale thermal insulation. These findings pave the way for an improved thermal management of nanoscale systems such as thermal barrier coatings and phase change memory materials with atomic-scale super-insulators. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.

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