Thermal switch using controlled capillary transition in heterogeneous nanostructures

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Authors
Avanessian, Tadeh
Hwang, Gisuk
Advisors
Issue Date
2018-06
Type
Article
Keywords
Argon , Adsorption , Gas-filled nanogap , Non-linear heat transfer , Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulation
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Citation
Avanessian, Tadeh; Hwang, Gisuk. 2018. Thermal switch using controlled capillary transition in heterogeneous nanostructures. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, vol. 121:pp 127-136
Abstract

The development of a nanoscale thermal switch is a crucial step toward advanced thermal management systems including future thermal logic gates and computers. This study demonstrates a new nanoscale thermal switch mechanism using controlled, morphological transition from adsorption to capillary state in a novel gas-filled nanostructure, i.e., a nanogap with controllable nanoposts on one surface only. The degree of thermal switch, 5, at given gas pressures are predicted using Ar-filled Pt-based nanostructures and Non-Equilibrium Molecular Dynamics (NEMD) simulation combined with Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation. It is found that S increases by increasing the height of the nanoposts and temperature difference across the nanostructure, and decreasing the interpost spacings, with the maximum degree of switch, S-max similar to 45 and 170 for Delta T = 10 K and 60 K, respectively, for the nanogap size of 5 nm. It is also observed that a stronger solid-fluid surface interaction results in a wider switch operating temperature window.

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Publisher
Elsevier
Journal
Book Title
Series
International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer;v.121
PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
0017-9310
EISSN