Excellent thermal conductivity of transparent cellulose nanofiber/epoxy resin nanocomposites

In summary, a transparent cellulose nanofiber/epoxy resin nanocomposite with high thermal conductivity and low thermal expansion was reported. The in-plane thermal conductivity of the nanocomposite was over 1.0 W m-1 K-1, which was 3-5 times higher than that of conventional transparent resins. The crystalline nature of the cellulose nanofibers provided excellent phonon pathways through the nanocomposite, realizing the high thermal conductivity. The introduction of cellulose nanofibers also resulted in the low thermal expansion of the nanocomposite. Furthermore, the thinness in diameter of the nanofiber and the little difference in refractive index between the nanofiber and epoxy resin made the nanocomposite transparent, Further studies are currently going on to improve these properties for future applications. © 2007 American Chemical Society.