Few layer graphene based superlattices as efficient thermal insulators

International audienceWhile graphene and few layer graphene (FLG) are considered as having the highest thermalconductivity in their in-plane directions, our molecular dynamics (MD) simulations however showthat those systems are also characterized by a superior thermal contact resistance, which could belargely tuned with the layer number when in contact with a silica substrate. Taking advantages ofsuch a resistive interface, MD simulations show that SiO2/FLG superlattices have a thermalconductivity as low as 0.30W/mK, exhibiting a promising prospect in nano-scale thermalinsulation. These findings pave the way for an improved thermal management of nanoscalesystems such as thermal barrier coatings and phase change memory materials with atomic-scalesuper-insulators. VC 2013 AIP Publishing LLC. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4824013