Copper-graphene composite could offer faster, cheaper way to cool electronic devices

The technique uses a 'heat spreader' made of a copper-graphene composite, which is attached to the electronic device using an indium-graphene interface film. "Both the copper-graphene and indium-graphene have higher thermal conductivity, allowing the device to cool efficiently," explained Dr Jag Kasichainula, an associate professor of materials science and engineering at North Carolina State University and author of a paper on the research. Dr Kasichainula found that the copper-graphene film's thermal conductivity allowed it to cool approximately 25% faster than pure copper. The composite, he says, is easy to manufacture and low cost. The research has been published in the journal Metallurgical and Materials Transactions. Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation.