Research articles
ScienceAsia 52 (2026): 1-10 |doi:
10.2306/scienceasia1513-1874.2026.063
Unveiling the size effect of boron nitride nanosheets in
electrospun PVA composites: towards superior in-plane
thermal conductivity
Shanshan Chaoa, Zihan Tenga, Liangjun Shenb, Lejia Wangb,*, Xing Lia,*
ABSTRACT: Developing advanced heat spreaders with high in-plane thermal conductivity is critical for modern
electronics. Herein, we report a hierarchical alignment strategy to fabricate polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/boron nitride
nanosheet (BNNS) composite films via electrospinning and subsequent hot-pressing. By systematically regulating the
lateral size of BNNSs, we unveil a decisive size effect on phonon transport within the confinement of nanofibers. Our
findings demonstrate that an optimal filler size of 4 m strikes a critical balance between minimizing interfacial phonon
scattering and maintaining structural integrity. The synergistic effect of shear-induced alignment and densification
constructs highly ordered phonon highways, enabling the composite with 70 wt% loading to achieve an exceptional
in-plane thermal conductivity of 25.58 Wm?1 K?1. Furthermore, the films exhibit excellent mechanical flexibility and
rapid heat dissipation capability, as confirmed by infrared thermal imaging. This work provides fundamental insights
into the interplay between filler dimensions and confinement effects, offering a scalable route for high-performance
thermal management materials.
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| a |
School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211 China |
| b |
School of Material and Chemical Engineering, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211 China |
* Corresponding author, E-mail: wanglejia@nbut.edu.cn, lixing@nbu.edu.cn
Received 12 Feb 2026, Accepted 23 May 2026
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