How Does Folding Modulate Thermal Conductivity of Graphene

TL;DR

This study investigates how folding graphene nanoribbons affects their thermal conductivity, revealing that folds scatter low-frequency phonons and can be used to modulate thermal transport in 2D materials.

Contribution

It introduces a molecular dynamics and Green's function approach to show how folding alters thermal conductivity via phonon scattering.

Findings

Folding reduces thermal conductivity in graphene nanoribbons.

Interlayer coupling changes modulate heat transport.

Folds scatter low-frequency phonons, affecting thermal properties.

Abstract

We study thermal transport in folded graphene nanoribbons using molecular dynamics simulations and the non-equilibrium Green's function method. It is found that the thermal conductivity of flat graphene nanoribbons can be modulated by folding and changing interlayer couplings. The analysis of transmission reveals that the reduction of thermal conductivity is due to scattering of low frequency phonons by the folds. Our results suggest that folding can be utilized in the modulation of thermal transport properties in graphene and other two dimensional materials.