Scalable microfluidic fabrication of vertically aligned two-dimensional nanosheets for superior thermal management.

This research aims to develop and test a scalable microfluidic method for assembling two‑dimensional (2D) nanosheets into large, well‑ordered structures that are vertically aligned. Such alignment is needed for advanced thermal‑management devices. Although 2D nanosheets have excellent anisotropic thermal properties, making them stand up vertically over large areas is hard because each sheet is much wider than it is thick. To overcome this, we explore a microfluidics‑based sheet‑aligning process that uses high‑aspect‑ratio microchannels. The narrow channels create strong confinement and high shear stress. Under these flow conditions, the suspended nanosheets line up parallel to the velocity gradient, producing a highly ordered vertical arrangement. The resulting vertically aligned graphene‑based films are

incorporated into thermal interface materials (TIMs) to boost heat flow through the thickness of the material. We combine numerical simulations with experimental measurements to study how microchannel shear rates, nanosheet volume fraction, and the resulting through‑plane thermal conductivity are linked. This approach offers a systematic way to examine microfluidic transport and to optimize the structure, providing a practical route to high‑performance thermal management solutions for microelectronics.

Message: Hi FE, I need help with “Scalable microfluidic fabrication of vertically aligned two-dimensional nanosheets for superior thermal management.” in “Thermal & Fluid Sciences”