Thermal conductivity of Y-junction carbon nanotubes

Abstract

The thermal conductivity of a Y-junction carbon nanotube with a (14,0) trunk splitting into two (7,0) branches has been investigated using a molecular dynamics approach. It has been found that the thermal conductivity of the Y-junction nanotube is less than that of a corresponding straight (14,0) nanotube, due to lattice defects in the form of nonhexagonal carbon rings at the junction. These lattice defects result in a discontinuity in the temperature profile of the Y-junction nanotube. Defects that were introduced to a straight (14,0) nanotube resulted in a similar discontinuity in the temperature profile.