Molecular dynamics investigation of the effects of thin periodic defective graphene on the interfacial thermal resistance at liquid–solid interfaces

By coating a heat transfer surface with a thin film, we can improve the heat and mass transfer as in the case of micro heat pipes. This study investigates the effects of periodic defective graphene on the density depletion length and the interfacial thermal resistance at the liquid–solid interface through a nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulation of a water–graphene–Cu system. The results show that the defect concentration of thin graphene plays an essential role in the interfacial thermal resistance. Specifically, it determines the relationship between the density depletion length and the interfacial thermal resistance between water and solid surfaces. In contrast to a pristine graphene coating, a periodic defective graphene coating affects the density depletion length, while the interfacial thermal resistance at the copper–liquid interface decreases clearly with the defect concentration at the strong interaction strength between thin graphene and water.