Shape, not just size, can matter when it comes to thermal
conductivity at the nanoscale. A new study shows that
nanoribbons made of boron have unusually strong heat-transfer
properties compared to other wire/tube-like nanomaterials. The
finding contrasts today’s ‘common wisdom’ that bundles of non-
metallic nanostructures are less effective in conducting heat
than single nanostructures. The study found "the thermal
conductivity of a bundle of boron nanoribbons can be
significantly higher than that of a single free-standing
nanoribbon." The research implies “achieving a tight van der
Waals interface between the ribbons is important in thermal
conductivity, something their geometry encourages," said team
member Terry Xu of the University of North Carolina at
Charlotte. "It is possible that this result may have
implications for other materials with ribbon-based
nanostructures," Xu added. The team also found the boron
nanoribbon bundles heat transfer properties could be modified,
allowing thermal conductivity to b