Normal graphene is already a pretty good heat conductor, but it has limitations--heat moves easily across the surface of stacked graphene, but not so well across the material's multiple layers. That problem, however, can be solved: according to simulations at Rice, creating 3D structures of white graphene with boron nitrade nanotubes can overcome these thermal limitations, allowing for unimpeded heat transfer in all directions.

In laymen's terms, that all means that this research could eventually lead to new, smaller, more efficient thermal solutions--making it possible for us to cool smaller and more powerful electronics in the future. Sounds good to me.

[Image Credit: Sharsavari, Rice University]