NANOTUBE PHONON WAVEGUIDE

• US 20130255906A1
• Filed: 07/20/2009
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Chang, Chih-Wei, Zettl, Alexander K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,569,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 13/06 by affecting the pattern of flow of the heat-exchange media F28F13/003 takes precedence; static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/373 Cooling facilitated by selection of materials for the device or materials for thermal expansion adaptation, e.g. carbon
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and devices in which certain types of nanotubes (e.g., carbon nanotubes and boron nitride nanotubes conduct heat with high efficiency and are therefore useful in electronic-type devices.

Claims

1. A nanotube phonon waveguide device, comprising:

(a) a heat source;

(b) a heat sink;

(c) a nanotube attached at one end to the heat sink and at another end to the heat source, said nanotube providing a phonon path between the heat source and the heat sink, said nanotube being mechanically deformed by being bent along its length; and

(d) a sensor for detecting phonon heat transmission through the nanotube.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the heat source provides heat between −

273°

C. and 3000°

C.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the heat source is also an electronic source and the sensor also senses electron flow through the nanotube.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the nanotube is one of an SWNT, MWCNT, BNNT and silicon nanotube.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the nanotube is between about 10 nm to 10⁸ nm in length.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the nanotube is between about 10 nm to 10⁸ nm in length.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising structure permitting differential deformation of the nanotube, and wherein the nanotube may be deformed by movement of said structure.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the differential deformation is coupled to the sensor to act as a band pass filter, wherein thermal conductivity increases with deformation, in that there is a semiconducting to metal transition during bending.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the heat source is also an electronic source and the sensor also senses electron flow through the nanotube, and said sensor is adapted to detect greater electronic resistance with greater deformation.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the heat source provides heat between 50°

C. and 100°

C.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the nanotubes are between about 10 nm to 40 nm in length.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the nanotube is a graphyne nanotube.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the nanotube is an MWCNT which is metallic.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the nanotube is an MWNT which is semiconducting.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the nanotube is a boron nitride nanotube having either a single layer or multiple layers.

16. A nanotube phonon waveguide device, comprising:

(a) a heat source;

(b) a heat sensor;

(c) a plurality of carbon nanotubes attached at one end to the heat source and at another end the heat sensor, at least one of said carbon nanotubes being mechanically deformed by being bent along its length;

(d) said heat sensor being arranged for detecting phonon heat transmission through the plurality of nanotubes; and

(e) an actuator for changing distance between the heat source and the heat sensor.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein at least one of said plurality of carbon nanotubes is functionalized to modify wavelengths which can be transmitted by a functionalized carbon nanotube.

18. A method for transmitting phonons from a heat source to a heat sink by means of carbon nanotubes, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a heat source, a heat sink and a plurality of carbon nanotubes connecting the heat source and the heat sink, at least one of said carbon nanotubes being mechanically deformed; and

(b) applying heat to said heat source.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of measuring heat transmitted to said heat sink by said nanotubes.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of deforming said carbon nanotubes to modulate transmitting phonons.