Thermal management of electronics and thermoelectric power generation from waste heat enabled by flexible Kevlar@SiC thermal conductive materials with liquid-crystalline orientation

High thermal conductive Kevlar@SiC membranes with liquid-crystalline orientation are used for thermal management of electronics and thermoelectric power generation from waste heat. [Display omitted] •Thermal conductive KSMs with liquid-crystalline orientation are developed.•KSMs display high thermal conductivity of 10.16 W m−1 K−1.•KSMs lower the surface temperature of a LED lamp (20W) about 9 °C when used as TIMs.•KSMs realize the thermoelectric power generation by reusing the waste heat. As an integral part of electronic devices, efficient thermal conductive materials can accelerate the heat dissipation of electronic devices rapidly, which effectively improves their stability, reliability, and service life. Here, a new mechanism of inducing the liquid-crystalline orientation of nanocomposites is developed to fabricate high thermal conductive Kevlar@SiC membranes (KSMs). The blade coating, liquid-solid phase separation, and hot pressing are conducted to fabricate the KSMs. A high in-plane thermal conductivity of 10.16 W m−1 K−1 is realized in KSMs, about 320% higher than that of neat Kevlar. The KSM can lower the surface temperature of a LED lamp about 9 °C when used as the thermal interface material in the thermal management system. Furthermore, the KSM also can be used to generate thermoelectric power by reusing waste heat conducted from a LED lamp. This work provides a new perspective on thermal management of electronics and waste heat utilization by nanocomposites with liquid-crystalline orientation.