Thermal conductance of nanoscale Langmuir-Blodgett films

Thermal transport across organic-inorganic interfaces is fundamental to understanding heat transfer in polymer-based composites, microelectronics, and energy conversion systems. We used the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique to deposit nanometer-thick films of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) on silicon and gold substrates in two distinct states: Liquid condensed (Lc) and Liquid expanded (Le). We used frequency domain thermoreflectance to measure the thermal conductivity of the PVAc film and its thermal interface conductance to the substrate. We found that PVAc films prepared through the LB process have a higher thermal conductivity when compared to bulk. We measured the thermal interface conductance between PVAc and gold to be approximately 90 MW/m2 K for both the Le and Lc states, and the thermal interface conductance between PVAc and silicon to be approximately 70 MW/m2 K for both the Le and Lc states.