Disclosed herein is a conductive grease composition that includes a functionalized carbon nanomaterial and/or boron nanomaterial and a base oil. The nanomaterial and base oil forms hydrogen bond network in the disclosed composition. Because of the formed hydrogen bonds, the disclosed grease exhibits enhanced thermal or electrical conductivity. Also disclosed is a method to improve thermal or electrical conductivity of an existing grease composition.

A method of forming an polymer composites is disclosed herein that includes infiltrating CNT sponges with a polymer or metal to form a composite. The method uses a relatively easy, scalable, and low-cost synthesis process that makes the composites attractive as TIM. CNTs in the sponge structure are covalently bonded, resulting in a low Young's modulus while at the same time maintaining a good thermal conductivity. This strategy makes it possible to obtain both high deformability and high thermal conductivity, which are difficult to have simultaneously due to their adverse correlation.

The present invention has a first substrate having a high thermal conduction portion which has a thermal conductivity higher than that of other regions in a plane direction, a thermoelectric conversion layer which is formed on the first substrate, consists of an organic material, and has a thermoelectric conversion material having a positive Seebeck coefficient, a second substrate which is formed on the thermoelectric conversion layer and has a high thermal conduction portion having a thermal conductivity higher than that of other regions in the plane direction and in which the high thermal conduction portion does not completely overlap the high thermal conduction portion of the first substrate in the plane direction, and a pair of electrodes which are connected to the thermoelectric conversion layer and consist of a metal material having a negative Seebeck coefficient. As a result, there are provided a thermoelectric conversion element and a thermoelectric conversion module which can generate heat with excellent efficiency by using a thermoelectric conversion material consisting of an organic material.

A carbon nanotube bonded sheet includes a fixture sheet formed from a sintered body of an inorganic material, and a carbon nanotube array sheet bonded to the sintered inorganic material of the fixture sheet.

A thermoelectric conversion material capable of increasing the conductivity, and increasing the Seebeck coefficient is provided. The thermoelectric conversion material according to the present invention contains a carbon nanotube, and has a G/D ratio of 25 or more as determined by Raman spectroscopic measurement, an electrical conductivity of 500 S/cm or more, and a Seebeck coefficient of 50 V/K or more.

An electrically and thermally conductive polymer concrete (made of a polymer and aggregate particles without cement) comprising non-functionalized nanoparticles (e.g. non-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (NF-MWCNTs), non-functionalized carbon nanofibers, non-functionalized nanoalumina) dispersed therein and methods of making same.

An adduct consists of derivatives of serinol pyrrole and of carbon allotropes in which the carbon is sp.sup.2 hybridized, such as carbon nanotubes, graphene or nano-graphites or carbon black, in order to improve the chemical-physical properties of the allotropes increasing above all their dispersibility and stability in liquid media and in polymer matrices, and a process for preparation of the adduct.

A method for making carbon nanotube array includes depositing a catalyst layer on a substrate surface of a growth substrate, to form a composite structure. The composite structure is placed in a chamber. The carbon source gas and protective gas are supplied to the chamber, and the composite structure is heated to a first temperature, to grow a carbon nanotube array on the substrate surface. Then the carbon nanotube is oxidized.

A nanotube-based insulator is provided having thermal insulating properties. The insulator can include a plurality of nanotube sheets stacked on top of one another. Each nanotube sheet can be defined by a plurality of carbon nanotubes. The plurality of carbon nanotubes can be configured so as to decrease normal-to-plane thermal conductivity while permitting in-plane thermal conductivity. A plurality of spacers can be situated between adjacent nanotube sheets so as to reduce interlayer contact between the nanotubes in each sheet. The plurality of spacers can be ceramic or alumina dots or provided by texturing the nanotube sheets.

Sugar alcohol blends of galactitol and mannitol and compositions comprising such blends are disclosed as phase change materials (PCMs). A method of forming carbon nanotubes on a carbon substrate is described. Carbon substrates with carbon nanotubes, in particular, conformal layers of carbon nanotubes on carbon substrates, are also disclosed, as are methods of making and using these materials. Thermal storage units are also provided. The thermal storage units can comprise a heat exchange path through which a heat exchange medium flows, and a thermal storage medium in thermal contact with the heat exchange path.