Thermal management assembly for e.g. fuel cells, comprises heat sink including graphite layer (exhibiting thermal conductivity, which is anisotropic in nature) obtained by cleaving graphene layer from graphite sheet, and support layer

摘要

A thermal management assembly comprises a heat sink including a graphite layer having a first surface, a second surface, and a thickness comprising a graphene layer, where graphite layer is obtained by cleaving a graphene layer from a graphite sheet, where graphite layer exhibits a thermal conductivity, which is anisotropic in nature and is greater than 500 W/m[deg]C in a plane(s); and a support layer comprising a metal, a polymeric resin, and/or a ceramic disposed on a surface(s) of the graphite layer. A thermal management assembly comprises a base thermally coupled to the heat generating device; and a heat sink thermally coupled to the base. The heat sink comprises a graphite layer having a first surface, a second surface, and a thickness comprising a graphene layer, where graphite layer is obtained by cleaving a graphene layer from a graphite sheet, where graphite layer exhibits a thermal conductivity, which is anisotropic in nature and is greater than 500 W/m[deg]C in a plane(s); and a support layer, which comprises a metal, a polymeric resin, and/or a ceramic, the support layer is disposed on a surface(s) of the graphite layer by a process consisting coating, brushing, spraying, spreading, dipping, laminating, or powder coating. Before the support layer is disposed on the graphite layer, the graphite layer is treated by plasma etching, ion etching, and/or chemical etching. The support layer comprises parylene, and formed by applying parylene onto a surface of the graphite layer, where parylene is applied onto the surface by brushing, dipping, spraying, or a chemical vapor deposition process. It comprises a metal foil backed by a thermally conductive adhesive layer. Independent claims are also included for: (1) a heat dissipating fin (14) for use in thermal management assemblies, the fin comprising a graphite layer; (2) a cooling system; and (3) a method for constructing a thermal management system.