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A group of researchers from China and the United States synthesized a 3D conductive network of gallium-based liquid metal by adding graphene nanofillers to the matrix, which was used as a new type of enhanced thermal interface material in electronic circuits. The research has been published in the "Advanced Materials Technology" magazine.
Research: Build a 3D conductive network with enhanced thermal and electrical properties in liquid gallium. Image Credit: BeataGFX/Shutterstock.com
Gallium-based liquid metal (LM) is a new type of multifunctional material with excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, non-volatility and rheology. They have shown potential in emerging applications such as robotics, 3D printing, conductors, flexibility and wearable energy technology.
A schematic diagram showing the preparation of LM-GrP composites by one-step ball milling. Image source: Wenkui Xing et al., Advanced Materials
One of the most promising applications of LM is as a thermal management material. There is an urgent need for effective thermal management to dissipate the large amount of heat generated by integrated circuit chips and printed circuit boards (PCBs).
Thermal interface materials (TIM) are usually used to fill the air gap between the chip and the heat sink to enhance the interface heat transfer. Air is a poor conductor of heat, which can cause IC chips to overheat under high operating loads. In contrast, amorphous LM-based materials exhibit much higher intrinsic thermal conductivity than other conventional TIMs, such as polymer-based materials.
Composition analysis of LM-based composite materials. a) Optical images of the prepared LM-GrP composite, the LM-graphite mixture processed under vacuum, and the LM-graphite manually mixed. b) XPS spectrum of LM-GrP composite and Ga 2p1/2. c) Schematic diagram of hydrogen bond interaction between graphene and LM oxide layer. d) FTIR spectra of graphite, LM-GrP composite and LM. Image source: Wenkui Xing et al., Advanced Materials
In actual applications, LMs may leak and contaminate other parts of electronic components due to their poor fluidity and wettability. Many studies have shown that slight oxidation can overcome high surface tension and low viscosity, but this oxidation will reduce the inherent thermal conductivity of LM.
Similar to polymer matrix composites, mixing high thermal conductivity fillers into the LM matrix can increase the effective thermal conductivity.
Although the metal filler in the LM matrix can provide high thermal conductivity, most of the reported metal particles such as Mg, Fe and Cu will form intermetallic compounds, consuming LM and sacrificing its fluidity, making it too difficult to use further. Inert and highly thermally conductive particles such as nickel (Ni) and tungsten (W) do not form an alloy with the LM matrix; however, this can lead to microscopic geometric features that make the surface texture rough. Two-dimensional inorganic nano-fillers, such as graphene, boron nitride (BN) and graphite flakes, have high thermal conductivity and smooth surface texture, and are widely used in polymer-based TIMs.
Previously polymer-based 3D interconnected filler networks have also been synthesized to obtain high thermal conductivity. Chemical modification, internal microstructure and volume mixing ratio are used to improve the thermal conductivity of the resulting composite material.
Heat dissipation test of LM-based composite materials. a) Schematic diagram of LED module heat dissipation experimental device, in which LM-GrP composite material is used as TIM. b) When using different TIMs in the LED module, the temperature changes with time. c) Comparison of time infrared images of LED modules between different TIMs. Image source: Wenkui Xing et al., Advanced Materials
The team added two-dimensional inorganic graphene nanofillers to the LM matrix to enhance the electrical, thermal and rheological properties of the LM matrix composite. The uniform dispersion and connection of two-dimensional inorganic nano-fillers into a network in the metal matrix is one of the key steps for bridging fillers to improve heat conduction.
They prefer ball milling as a mixing process, which uses mechanical shearing force and allows rapid and large-scale production, and introduces chemical functional groups into the graphene nanosheets in the ball mill cylinder when using appropriate chemical liquids, solids or vapors.
The researchers used a simple one-step ball milling method to obtain a 3D thermally and electrically conductive graphene network in gallium-based liquid metal (LM). Among them, 2D graphene nanofillers and their derivatives are combined to form a 3D thermally and electrically conductive filler network.
They found that the resulting composite material showed the highest 3D thermal conductivity (44.6 W m-1 K-1) in the gallium-based LM composite material with two-dimensional inorganic nanosheets, and high electrical conductivity (8.3 S) in the gallium-based liquid. .µm-1) Metal composite material.
The improved thermal conductivity and wettability of gallium-based composite materials make it useful as a thermal interface material with elegant texture for IC chip heat dissipation. Magnetic and electrochemical measurement data confirm that these LM-based composite materials can also be controlled under external electric or magnetic fields, which may help expand their applications in external field-driven systems.
Electrical and magnetic properties of LM-based composite materials. a) Schematic diagram of the experimental device for oxidation and diffusion under voltage. b) Oxidation diffusion of droplets in 1 m NaOH solution at 5 V i) pure gallium; ii) [email protection] composite material. c) Directional movement of pure gallium and [email protection] droplets in the letter "J" orbit. d) Schematic diagram of the movement of the [email protection] composite material controlled by a magnet. e) Orientable movement guided by a magnet [email protection] The trajectory of the magnetic fluid. Image source: Wenkui Xing et al., Advanced Materials
Xing Wenkui, Shen Chen, Wang Han, Liu Wendong, Zheng Jiashu, Zheng Feiyu, Li Xiaomin, Peng Tao, Shang Wen, Fu Benwei, Wu Jianbo, Song Chengyi, Li Baowen, Deng Tao. Build a 3D conductive network with enhanced thermal and electrical properties in liquid gallium. Senior alma mater. technology. 2021, 2100970. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/admt.202100970
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