Predictions of the thermal conductivity of multiphase nanocomposites with complex structures.

Multiphase nanocomposites have drawn substantial attention due to their advanced functionality, including high thermal conductivity. Herein, theoretical models are developed based on modifications of the effective medium theory and then validated to predict the effective thermal conductivity (Keff) of three common multiphase nanocomposites: nanosheet/nanoparticle/polymer, nanotube/nanoparticle/polymer, and nanosheet/nanotube/polymer. Case studies showed that the predicted Keff agreed well with available experimental data, validating the developed models. Moreover, quantifiable material properties, like the thermal conductivity of nanofillers, the morphology of nanofillers, and the interfacial thermal resistance around nanofillers, were used to investigate their effects on the Keff of multiphase nanocomposites. This quantitative study not only can provide simplified strategy to predict the Keff for diverse multiphase nanocomposites, but it can also guide the design of multiphase nanocomposites with enhanced thermal conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]