Enhanced thermal conductivity in vertically grown ZnO Nanorods/ Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxithiophene): Poly(4-styrenesulfonate) composite thin films

•The composite films of compact ZnO and ZnO nanorod (NR) with polymer are fabricated.•ZnO NR composite films exhibit enhanced thermal conductivity.•Enhancement occurs mainly due to grain boundary phonon scattering.•The thermal diffusivity of ZnO NR composite film at room temperature is 0.53 mm2/s. Herein, we have investigated the thermal properties of compact and vertically grown ZnO nanorods (NRs)/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxithiophene):poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) composite film. The ZnO NR arrays with length 885 ± 5 nm have been grown using the sol–gel method. Furthermore, composite films of compact-ZnO and ZnO NR with PEDOT:PSS have also been grown. The temperature-dependent thermal conductivity for both the composite films has been investigated in the temperature range of 273–353 K. The thermal conductivity of compact-ZnO/PEDOT:PSS is found to be in between 1.43–1.49 W/mK. The thermal conductivity is found to be enhanced significantly in the case of ZnO NR/PEDOT:PSS composite film.