Optimization of nanotube thermal interconnects for near-field radiative heat transport

Near-field radiative heat transfer between vertical single-wall nanotube (SWNT) forest and different substrates was computed using experimental parametrization for dielectric response of α-quartz, α-sapphire, GaAs, 6H-BN, h-SiC, Au, Ag, Al, Ni, Ti, Cu materials. Rational choice of material and optical matching at the interface allow one to achieve maximum near-field Kapitza conductance of the SWNT forest exceeding 60 MW / (Km ²) on polar dielectrics at 300 K. Such an efficient thermal coupling is due to the near-field overlap of surface polaritons of the substrate and SWNT plasmons, further enhanced by tweaking the forest thickness.