Thermal conductivity of epoxy resin films doped with a polythiophene/graphene complex or aluminum nitride

Polymer composites with thermal conductivity are attractive for heat dissipation in electronic devices. We prepared epoxy resin-based composite films filled with polythiophene [poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl)] (P3HT)/graphene complex or aluminum nitride (AlN). The composite films were characterized by electron microscopic observation, thermogravimetric analysis, and thermal conductivity measurements. The addition of a small content of P3HT/graphene complex (<1 wt%) increased both the out-of-plane and in-plane thermal conductivities of the epoxy resin. The addition of AlN also increased thermal conductivity, but >= 40 wt% was required to obtain thermal conductivity comparable with that of an epoxy resin film doped with 0.9 wt% P3HT/graphene complex. The present results illustrate the potential of P3HT/graphene complexes as fillers for improving the thermal conductivity of epoxy resins without affecting their insulating properties.