Optimized Design of Composite Materials for Heat Transport Applications

Author(s):  
Babak Kouchmeshky ◽  
Peter Kroll ◽  
Ibukun Olubanjo

Careful design of composite materials offers a chance for engineering phonon band gaps and controlling phonon scattering. Taking advantage of this strategy, we study properties of SiC composite materials for engineering applications in which the control of thermal transport is important. In particular, knowledge of the individual contributions of phonons on thermal transport provides us the necessary information to focus on most significant phonon frequencies. In our study, we select a series of candidate model geometries and use a virtual testing method for elevated temperatures to support the design process. Integrating atomistic non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations to determine thermal conductivity we provide a proof-of-concept study and deliver best design scenarios of SiC composite materials with very low-thermal conductivity.

Author(s):  
Zhiting Tian ◽  
Sang Kim ◽  
Ying Sun ◽  
Bruce White

The phonon wave packet technique is used in conjunction with the molecular dynamics simulations to directly observe phonon scattering at material interfaces. The phonon transmission coefficient of nanocomposites is examined as a function of the defect size, thin film thickness, orientation of interface to the heat flow direction. To generalize the results based on phonons in a narrow frequency range and at normal incidence, the effective thermal conductivity of the same nanocomposite structure is calculated using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations for model nanocomposites formed by two mass-mismatched Ar-like solids and heterogeneous Si-SiCO2 systems. The results are compared with the modified effective medium formulation for nanocomposites.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penghua Ying ◽  
Jin Zhang ◽  
Zheng Zhong

<p></p><p>Soft porous crystals (SPCs) or flexible metal-organic frameworks have great potential applications in gas storage and separation, in which SPCs can undergo phase transition due to external stimuli. Thus, understanding the effect of phase transition on the thermal transport in SPCs becomes extremely crucial, because the latent heat generated in aforementioned applications is needed to be effectively removed. In this paper, taking the isorecticular DUT series as an example, the thermal transport property of SPCs during the phase transition from the large pore (lp) phase to the narrow pore (np) phase is comprehensively investigated by molecular dynamics simulations together with the Green-Kubo method. According to our calculations, all DUT structures exhibit an ultralow thermal conductivity smaller than 0.2 Wm<sup>-1</sup>K<sup>-1</sup>. In addition, we find that the effect of phase transition on the thermal transport property of different DUT materials considered here strongly depends on their porosity. As for DUT-48, its lp phase has a thermal conductivity larger than that of its np phase. However, in other DUT materials, i.e, DUT-47, DUT-49, DUT-50, and DUT-151 the thermal transport property of their lp phase is found to be weaker than that of their np phase. This complicated effect of phase transition on the thermal transport in SPCs can be explained by a porosity-dominated competition mechanism between the increased volumetric heat capacity and the aggravated phonon scattering during the phase transition process.</p><p></p>


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penghua Ying ◽  
Jin Zhang ◽  
Yao Du ◽  
Zheng Zhong

In this paper, we conduct a comprehensive investigation on the thermal transport in one-dimensional (1D) van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures by using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. It is found that the boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) coating can increase the thermal conductance of inner carbon nanotube (CNT) base by 36%, while the molybdenum disulfide nanotube (<a>MSNT</a>) coating can reduce the thermal conductance by 47%. The different effects of BNNT and MSNT coatings on the thermal transport behaviors of 1D vdW heterostructures are explained by the competition mechanism between improved heat flux and increased temperature gradient in 1D vdW heterostructures. By taking CNT@BNNT@MSNT as an example, thermal transport in 1D vdW heterostructures containing three layers is also investigated. It is found that the coaxial BNNT-MSNT coating can significantly reduce the thermal conductance of inner CNT base by 61%, which is even larger than that of an individual MSNT coating. This unexpected reduction in thermal conductance of CNT@BNNT@MSNT can be explained by the suppression of heat flux arising from the possible compression effect, since BNNT-MSNT coating in CNT@BNNT@MSNT can more significantly suppress the vibration of inner CNT when compared to the individual MSNT coating in CNT@MSNT. In addition to the in-plane thermal transport, the interfacial thermal conductance between inner and outer nanotubes in 1D vdW heterostructures is also examined to provide a quantitative understanding of the thermal transport behaviors of1D vdW heterostructures. This work is expected to provide molecular insights into tailoring the heat transport in carbon base 1D vdW heterostructures and thus facilitate their broader applications as thermal interface materials.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aravind Krishnamoorthy ◽  
Nitish Baradwaj ◽  
Aiichiro Nakano ◽  
Rajiv K. Kalia ◽  
Priya Vashishta

AbstractEngineering thermal transport in two dimensional materials, alloys and heterostructures is critical for the design of next-generation flexible optoelectronic and energy harvesting devices. Direct experimental characterization of lattice thermal conductivity in these ultra-thin systems is challenging and the impact of dopant atoms and hetero-phase interfaces, introduced unintentionally during synthesis or as part of deliberate material design, on thermal transport properties is not understood. Here, we use non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations to calculate lattice thermal conductivity of $${\mathrm {(Mo|W)Se_2}}$$ ( Mo | W ) Se 2 monolayer crystals including $${\mathrm {Mo}}_{1-x}{\mathrm {W}}_x{\mathrm {Se_2}}$$ Mo 1 - x W x Se 2 alloys with substitutional point defects, periodic $${\mathrm {MoSe_2}|\mathrm {WSe_2}}$$ MoSe 2 | WSe 2 heterostructures with characteristic length scales and scale-free fractal $${\mathrm {MoSe_2}}|{\mathrm {WSe_2}}$$ MoSe 2 | WSe 2 heterostructures. Each of these features has a distinct effect on phonon propagation in the crystal, which can be used to design fractal and periodic alloy structures with highly tunable thermal conductivities. This control over lattice thermal conductivity will enable applications ranging from thermal barriers to thermoelectrics.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penghua Ying ◽  
Jin Zhang ◽  
Yao Du ◽  
Zheng Zhong

In this paper, we conduct a comprehensive investigation on the thermal transport in one-dimensional (1D) van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures by using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. It is found that the boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) coating can increase the thermal conductance of inner carbon nanotube (CNT) base by 36%, while the molybdenum disulfide nanotube (<a>MSNT</a>) coating can reduce the thermal conductance by 47%. The different effects of BNNT and MSNT coatings on the thermal transport behaviors of 1D vdW heterostructures are explained by the competition mechanism between improved heat flux and increased temperature gradient in 1D vdW heterostructures. By taking CNT@BNNT@MSNT as an example, thermal transport in 1D vdW heterostructures containing three layers is also investigated. It is found that the coaxial BNNT-MSNT coating can significantly reduce the thermal conductance of inner CNT base by 61%, which is even larger than that of an individual MSNT coating. This unexpected reduction in thermal conductance of CNT@BNNT@MSNT can be explained by the suppression of heat flux arising from the possible compression effect, since BNNT-MSNT coating in CNT@BNNT@MSNT can more significantly suppress the vibration of inner CNT when compared to the individual MSNT coating in CNT@MSNT. In addition to the in-plane thermal transport, the interfacial thermal conductance between inner and outer nanotubes in 1D vdW heterostructures is also examined to provide a quantitative understanding of the thermal transport behaviors of1D vdW heterostructures. This work is expected to provide molecular insights into tailoring the heat transport in carbon base 1D vdW heterostructures and thus facilitate their broader applications as thermal interface materials.


Nanomaterials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ravindra Sunil Dhumal ◽  
Dinesh Bommidi ◽  
Iman Salehinia

Variation in the thermal conductivity of a metal-coated tri-walled carbon nanotube (3WCNT), in the presence of vacancies, was studied using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. A Two-Temperature model was used to account for electronic contribution to heat transfer. For 3WCNT with 0.5% and 1% random vacancies, there was 76%, and 86% decrease in the thermal conductivity, respectively. In that order, an overall ~66% and ~140% increase in the thermal conductivity was recorded when 3 nm thick coating of metal (nickel) was deposited around the defective models. We have also explored the effects of tube specific and random vacancies on thermal conductivity of the 3WCNT. The changes in thermal conductivity have also been justified by the changes in vibrational density of states of the 3WCNT and the individual tubes. The results obtained can prove to be useful for countering the detrimental effects of vacancies in carbon nanotubes.


Author(s):  
Arian Mayelifartash ◽  
Mohammad Ali Abdol ◽  
Sadegh Sadeghzadeh

In this paper, by employing non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations (NEMD), the thermal conductance of hybrid formed by polyaniline (C3N) and boron carbide (BC3) in both armchair and zigzag configurations has...


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document