Molecular‐Level Interface Engineering and Additive‐Induced Crystallinity Tuning for High‐Performance Thermally Conductive Polymer Composites
Abstract
Abstract To boost up the properties of thermally conductive polymer composites, it is essential to conduct comprehensive research focused on interface engineering between the polymer matrix and fillers. Hexagonal boron nitride (BN) or expanded graphite (EG) are commonly utilized as nanofillers to improve the thermal conductivity of polymer composites. However, the interfacial interactions between the polymer matrix and nanofillers are generally weak, making effective thermal conductivity challenging. To address this issue, we have designed and synthesized an electron‐rich and aromatic tetrathiafulvalene‐based reactive mesogen (TRM), which not only possesses high thermal conductivity but also exhibits excellent interfacial affinity with BN and EG at the molecular level. Systematic experiments, including photophysical, thermodynamic, structural, and computational analyses, reveal that the thermal conductivity of TRM‐based polymer composites is substantially enhanced due to effective interfacial interactions between TRM and fillers. The TRM composites experimentally show excellent thermal conductivity based on enhanced interfacial phonon transfer, and these results are supported by theoretical interpretations. These findings underscore the critical importance of interface engineering between the polymer matrix and fillers at the molecular level in maximizing the material properties of polymer composites.
Article Details
Authors (10)
Minwoo Rim
Department of Polymer‐Nano Science and Technology Department of Nano Convergence Engineering Jeonbuk National University Jeonju 54896 Republic of Korea
Huan Huu Pham
Department of Polymer‐Nano Science and Technology Department of Nano Convergence Engineering Jeonbuk National University Jeonju 54896 Republic of Korea
Hyerim Lee
Jaeseok Hyeong
Department of Polymer‐Nano Science and Technology Department of Nano Convergence Engineering Jeonbuk National University Jeonju 54896 Republic of Korea
Youngjae Wi
Department of Polymer‐Nano Science and Technology Department of Nano Convergence Engineering Jeonbuk National University Jeonju 54896 Republic of Korea
Jahyeon Koo
Department of Polymer‐Nano Science and Technology Department of Nano Convergence Engineering Jeonbuk National University Jeonju 54896 Republic of Korea
Duy Thanh Tran
Department of Polymer‐Nano Science and Technology Department of Nano Convergence Engineering Jeonbuk National University Jeonju 54896 Republic of Korea
Seok‐In Na
Department of Flexible and Printable Electronics and LANL‐JBNU Engineering Institute‐Korea Jeonbuk National University Jeonju 54896 Republic of Korea
Dong‐Gue Kang
Department of Polymer‐Nano Science and Technology Department of Nano Convergence Engineering Jeonbuk National University Jeonju 54896 Republic of Korea
Kwang‐Un Jeong
Department of Polymer‐Nano Science and Technology Department of Nano Convergence Engineering Jeonbuk National University Jeonju 54896 Republic of Korea