Liquid Metal-Bridged MXene Modified Aramid Nanofiber Composite Film for Thermal Management

Abstract

The miniaturization and integration of modern microelectronic devices have driven the development of thermal management and conversion materials. However, traditional thermal management materials suffer from limitations such as single functionality, poor flexibility, and insufficient stability, which hinder their application in portable wearable electronics. In this work, we report the preparation of liquid metal (LM)-bridged MXene-modified nanoaramid fiber (ANF) composite films (ANF_2h/LM-MXene) using vacuum-assisted self-assembly and hot-pressing techniques. The bridging of LM and the bonding of ANF create efficient phonon and electron transport pathways within the composite system, endowing the material with high thermal conductivity (13.06 W m^–1 K^–1) and mechanical strength (165.26 MPa). Functionally, the composite films exhibit outstanding joule heating performance (heating up to 156 °C at 4 V), photothermal conversion efficiency (heating up to 115.1 °C under 250 W optical power), and heat dissipation capabilities. The lightweight and strong ANF_2h/LM-MXene composite films, with their superior photothermal, electrothermal, and thermal properties, show great potential for applications in smart wearable devices, portable medical devices, and microelectronics.