Disorder controlled sound speed and thermal conductivity of hybrid metalcone films

TL;DR

This study investigates how structural disorder influences sound speed and thermal conductivity in hybrid metalcone films, revealing that disorder primarily affects thermal transport through sound speed variations.

Contribution

It demonstrates the control of thermal conductivity in hybrid polymer films via disorder manipulation, using molecular layer deposition and kinetic theory analysis.

Findings

Thermal conductivity ranges from 0.43 to 1.14 W/mK.

Sound speed change explains thermal conductivity differences.

Disorder has negligible impact on heat capacity and vibrational lifetimes.

Abstract

The multifaceted applications of polymers are often limited by their thermal conductivity. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of thermal transport in polymers is of vital interest. Here, we leverage molecular layer deposition to grow three types of hybrid metalcone (i.e., alucone, zincone, and tincone) films and study their thermal and acoustic properties. The thermal conductivity of the hybrid polymer films ranges from 0.43 to 1.14 W/mK. Using kinetic theory, we trace the origin of thermal conductivity difference to sound speed change, which is dictated by the structural disorder within the films. Changing the disorder has negligible impacts on volumetric heat capacity and vibrational lifetimes. Our findings provide means to improve the thermal conductivity of organic, hybrid, and inorganic polymer films.