Discontinuously stacked origami graphite will impede all three modes of thermal transport:
- Radiation: Highly oriented graphite is reflective,
in contrast to the dielectrics used in typical thermal insulation.
- Convection: Highly oriented graphite is composed of
broad, dense graphene molecules, which are less permeable than fibrous or
open-cell foam insulating materials.
- Conduction: C-axis conduction in graphite is
already remarkably poor for an electrically conductive, reflective material.
The contacts between sheafs of discontinuously stacked origami graphite will
be narrow, sparse--and thus insulating--because of the unusual stiffness of
the material.
C-axis conduction in discontinuous origami graphite
will be especially poor if the discontinuities are numerous. Numerous,
thin graphite sheafs are desired. The
following micrograph shows that origami of nanoscale thickness can be
made.
