Linear Assembly of Oxidized Surface Treated Nanodiamonds in Polymer-Based Nanohybrids by Electric Field Inducement

Linear assembly of densely packed oxidized nanodiamonds (OxNDs) was achieved in polyepoxide-based nanohybrid films. A homogeneous suspension of pre-polymer of polyepoxide and OxNDs was cast onto a polyamide-spacer and subjected to an electric field in order to induce relocation and stretched-assembles of the fillers before the mixture became cross-linked. The OxNDs suspended readily, forming linear assemblies of OxNDs (LAOxNDs) of varying thicknesses, and aligned vertical to the film surfaces. Nanohybrid films with assemblies of LAOxNDs led to a significant enhancement in thermal conductivity while maintained the electrical insulation property of the polyepoxide. Mechanisms for the formation and structural variation of LAOxNDs in the matrix are elaborated regarding the improvement in physical properties. The present ambient-oxidation process and field-induced application are simple, but effective in enhancing the thermal properties of the polymer-based hybrids, and hence, promising for applications in the semiconductor industry, such as thermal interface materials.