We report on the first model of a thermal transistor to control heat flow. Like its electronic counterpart, our thermal transistor is a three-terminal device with the important feature that the current through the two terminals can be controlled by small changes in the temperature or in the current through the third terminal. This control feature allows us to switch the device between off (insulating) and on (conducting) states or to amplify a small current. The thermal transistor model is possible because of the negative differential thermal resistance.
We study thermal properties of one dimensional(1D) harmonic and anharmonic lattices with mass gradient. It is found that the temperature gradient can be built up in the 1D harmonic lattice with mass gradient due to the existence of gradons. The heat flow is asymmetric in the anharmonic lattices with mass gradient. Moreover, in a certain temperature region the {it negative differential thermal resistance} is observed. Possible applications in constructing thermal rectifier and thermal transistor by using the graded material are discussed.
Using nonequilibrium molecular-dynamics simulations, we study the temperature dependence of the negative differential thermal resistance that appears in two-segment Frenkel-Kontorova lattices. We apply the theoretical method based on Landauer equation to obtain the relationship between the heat current and the temperature, which states a fundamental interpretation about the underlying physical mechanism of the negative differential thermal resistance. The temperature profiles and transport coefficients are demonstrated to explain the crossover from diffusive to ballistic transport. The finite-size effect is also discussed.
We use a symmetry-motivated approach to analyse neutron pair distribution function data to investigate the mechanism of negative thermal expansion (NTE) in ReO$_3$. This analysis shows that the local structure of ReO$_3$ is dominated by an in-phase octahedral tilting mode and that the octahedral units are far less flexible to scissoring type deformations than the octahedra in the related compound ScF$_3$. These results support the idea that structural flexibility is an important factor in NTE materials, allowing the phonon modes that drive a volume contraction of the lattice to occupy a greater volume in reciprocal space. The lack of flexibility in ReO$_3$ restricts the NTE-driving phonons to a smaller region of reciprocal space, limiting the magnitude and temperature range of NTE. In addition, we investigate the thermal expansion properties of the material at high temperature and do not find the reported second NTE region. Finally, we show that the local fluctuations, even at elevated temperatures, respect the symmetry and order parameter direction of the observed $P4/mbm$ high pressure phase of ReO$_3$. The result indicates that the motions associated with rigid unit modes are highly anisotropic in these systems.
We investigate the transport properties of pristine zigzag-edged borophene nanoribbons (ZBNRs) of different widths, using the fist-principles calculations. We choose ZBNRs with widths of 5 and 6 as odd and even widths. The differences of the quantum transport properties are found, where even-N BNRs and odd-N BNRs have different current-voltage relationships. Moreover, the negative differential resistance (NDR) can be observed within certain bias range in 5-ZBNR, while 6-ZBNR behaves as metal whose current rises with the increase of the voltage. The spin filter effect of 36% can be revealed when the two electrodes have opposite magnetization direction. Furthermore, the magnetoresistance effect appears to be in even-N ZBNRs, and the maximum value can reach 70%.
Nowadays the world is facing a prominent paradox regarding thermal energy. The production of heat accounts for more than 50% of global final energy consumption while the waste heat potential analysis reveals that 72% of the global primary energy consumption is lost after conversion mainly in the form of heat. Towards global decarbonization, it is of vital importance to establish a solution to thermal energy utilization under full control. Here, we propose and realize an unprecedented concept -- barocaloric thermal batteries based on the inverse colossal barocaloric effect of NH4SCN. Thermal charging is initialized upon pressurization through an order-to-disorder phase transition below 364 K and in turn the discharging of 43 J g-1, which are eleven times more than the input mechanical energy, occurs on demand at depressurization at lower temperatures. The discharging is also manifested as a directly measured temperature rise of 12 K. The thermodynamic equilibrium nature of the pressure-restrained heat-carrying phase guarantees stable storage and/or transport over a variety of temporal and/or spatial scales. The barocaloric thermal batteries reinforced by their solid microscopic mechanism are expected to significantly advance the ability to take advantage of waste heat.