Patent ID: 7784531
Filing Date: 2010-08-31
Classification: B82Y,H01L

Abstract:
1. A method for providing for transport of thermal energy from an object, the method comprising: providing an array of carbon nanotubes or carbon nanofibers, referred to herein as “CNTs,” embedded in or connected to a selected surface of a selected substrate having high thermal conductivity, where at least first and second CNTs in the array are adjacent to and are oriented substantially perpendicular to the selected surface; after provision of the at least first and second CNTs in the array, filling at least a portion of an interstitial space between the at least first and second adjacent CNTs in the array with a selected filler material that has high thermal conductivity so that the filler material makes contact with the selected substrate surface at a first end of each of the at least first and second CNTs and a second end of each of the at least first and second CNTs is exposed and is not fully covered by the filler material; applying at least one of (i) polyethylene glycol and (ii) Janus Green B to exposed ends of each of the at least first and second CNTs to inhibit deposition of the filler material at one or more of the exposed ends; and causing the exposed second ends of the at least first and second CNTs to make contact with a surface of an object for which transport of thermal energy is to be provided so that at least one of the exposed second ends of the CNTs bends or buckles, whereby thermal energy is removed from the object through the at least first and second CNTs and a portion of the removed thermal energy is distributed within the filler material.