Electrical batteries, mobile phones, central processing units of computing
systems, and scientific instruments lose life due to improper heat transfer.
Thermal management enables these electronics to run smoothly. This
experiment measures heat sink temperature fluctuations during heating and
cooling using lateral fins coated with graphene and carbon nanotubes. The
study examined 15 W, 25 W, 35 W, and 45 W heat inputs to record the time to
reach 40, 50, and 60?C. Regardless of the coating material used in the heat
sink, the time taken by the heat sinks to attain 60?C was more than 3000 s.
Heat input reduced the time to below 3000 s. Heat sinks dissipated heat
until 32?C during cooling. Infrared spectroscopy showed fins and heat
sinks' energy retention. Convective heat transfer cooled the middle row of
fins, and coated and uncoated heat sinks were evaluated for enhancement
ratio. Coating the heat sink with graphene resulted in an enhancement in
heat transfer by 1.15. While heating at 15 W, the CNT-coated heat sink
exhibited a 1.9 enhancement ratio. The graphene-coated heat sink had an
enhancement ratio for 25 W, 35 W, and 45 W heat inputs. The study found that
operating temperature, input energy, and nano-coatings affect heat sink
performance. This work can help optimise heat transfer from the heat sink to
the atmosphere by determining nanocoating thickness. Mixed-material coating
studies can disclose heat sink performance.