Directly synthesizing CNT-TIM on aluminum alloy heat sink for HB-LED thermal management

Vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACNT) arrays were synthesized directly on aluminum alloy substrates by thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Iron nitrate (Fe(NO₃)₃ldr9H₂O) was used as the catalyst. Parameters influencing CNT synthesis were studied and optimized. Several surface treatment methods were proposed to improve the quality of CNTs synthesized on aluminum alloy substrates. The grown CNT arrays were used as thermal interface material (TIM) while the aluminum alloy substrate used as the heat sink in high brightness LED packages. The measured thermal resistance of the grown CNT-TIM was 38 mm²-K/W. The output light power testing demonstrated CNT-TIM is an attractive thermal management solution for HB- LED packages.