Tunable thermal link
Disclosed is a device whereby the thermal conductance of a multiwalled nanostructure such as a multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) can be controllably and reversibly tuned by sliding one or more outer shells with respect to the inner core. As one example, the thermal conductance of an MWCNT dropped to 15% of the original value after extending the length of the MWCNT by 190 nm. The thermal conductivity returned when the tube was contracted. The device may comprise numbers of multiwalled nanotubes or other graphitic layers connected to a heat source and a heat drain and various means for tuning the overall thermal conductance for applications in structure heat management, heat flow in nanoscale or microscale devices and thermal logic devices.
- Research Organization:
- University of California, Oakland, CA (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-05CH11231
- Assignee:
- The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)
- Patent Number(s):
- 8,776,870
- Application Number:
- 12/436,253
- OSTI ID:
- 1144977
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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