Thermal conductivity of liquid/carbon nanotube core-shell nanocomposites

Hollow carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were impregnated with an ionic liquid, resulting in a composite core-shell nanostructure. Liquid infusion was verified by transmission electron microscopy and rigorous observations unveiled that the nanocomposite is stable, i.e., liquid did not evaporate owing to its low vapor pressure. A series of individual nanostructures were attached on T-type heat sensors and their thermal behavior was evaluated. The liquid core was found to reduce the thermal conductivity of the base structure, CNT, from ca. 28 W/mK to ca. 15 W/mK. These findings could contribute to a better understanding of nanoscale thermal science and potentially to applications such as nanodevice thermal management and thermoelectric devices.