Thermal conductivity of individual multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Thermal conductivity of individual multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) is measured using a pulsed photothermal reflectance technique. Intrinsic thermal conductivity of individual MWCNT with a diameter 150 nm and length 2 μm at room temperature is extracted to be 2586 W/mK. Individual MWCNT is surrounded by SiO2, so parallel resistor model is applied in which SiO2 supportive is treated as a conducting channel that transports heat in parallel with MWCNT.

► A single MWCNT of diameter 150 nm with length of 2 μm was fabricated. ► Single MWCNT was anchored at the bottom of a trench created by etching of SiO2. ► Pulsed photothermal reflectance has been applied to measure thermal conductivity. ► Parallel resistor model was used to extract thermal conductivity of individual CNT. ► Thermal conductivity of individual MWCNT was measured to be 2586 W/mK.