Electrically and thermally conductive carbon nanotube or nanofiber array dry adhesive

• US 20080292840A1
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Published: 11/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Zhao, Yang, Kashani, Ali, Majumdar, Arun, Tong, Tao
• Application Number:
  US12/154,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20080292840A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/114
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/14 characterised by a face layer formed of separate pieces of material which are juxtaposed side-by-side B32B5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/00 Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24132 including grain, strips, or filamentary elements in different layers or components parallel

Abstract

A two-sided carbon nanostructure thermal interface material having a flexible polymer matrix; an array of vertically aligned carbon nanostructures on a first surface of the flexible polymer matrix; and an array of vertically aligned carbon nanostructures on a second surface of the flexible polymer matrix, wherein the first and second surfaces are opposite sides of the flexible polymer matrix.

Claims

1. A two-sided carbon nanostructure thermal interface material, comprising:

a flexible polymer matrix;

an array of vertically aligned carbon nanostructures on a first surface of the flexible polymer matrix; and

an array of vertically aligned carbon nanostructures on a second surface of the flexible polymer matrix, wherein the first and second surfaces are opposite sides of the flexible polymer matrix.

2. The material of claim 1, wherein the flexible polymer matrix is parylene.

3. The material of claim 1, wherein the flexible polymer matrix is polystyrene.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein the carbon nanostructures are carbon nanotubes.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein the carbon nanostructures are carbon nanofibers.

6. The structure of claim 1, wherein the carbon nanostructures have a tower height of less than 30 μ

m.

7. A method of forming a two-sided carbon nanostructure, comprising:

forming an array of vertically aligned carbon nanostructures on a rigid substrate;

infiltrating the array of vertically aligned carbon nanostructures with a polymeric material;

removing the rigid substrate from the array of vertically aligned carbon nanostructures and polymeric material; and

etching a portion of the polymeric material to expose an array of vertically aligned carbon nanostructures protruding from a polymer film.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising embedding the array of vertically aligned carbon nanostructures within the polymeric material.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising curing the polymeric material before removing the rigid substrate from the array of vertically aligned carbon nanostructures and the polymeric material.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising vaporizing the polymeric material before infiltrating the array of vertically aligned carbon nanostructures with the polymeric material.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the polymeric material is parylene.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the polymeric material is polystyrene.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of etching away a portion of the polymeric material exposes an array of vertically aligned carbon nanostructures on a first surface of the polymer film and an array of vertically aligned carbon nanostructures on a second surface of the polymer film, and wherein the first and second surfaces are on opposite sides of the polymer film.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the polymer film is a flexible polymer matrix.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the rigid substrate has a patterned metal catalyst film.