How Does Thermal Conductivity Vary in Nanomaterials?
In bulk materials, thermal conductivity is generally well understood and can be predicted based on the material's composition and structure. However, at the nanoscale, thermal conductivity can vary widely even for the same material. For instance, carbon nanotubes have thermal conductivities that can exceed 3000 W/m·K, making them excellent candidates for thermal interface materials. On the other hand, nanostructured silicon exhibits much lower thermal conductivity compared to its bulk form, which can be advantageous in thermoelectric applications.
