Impact of Nonequilibrium Between Electrons and Phonons on Heat Transfer in Metallic Nanoparticles Suspended in Dielectric Media

Controlled heating of nanoparticles is a key enabling technology for various nanomanufacturing and biomedical applications. A theoretical study of energy transport in nanoparticles is conducted to elucidate the role of electron-phonon spatial nonequilibrium in heat conduction across metal-dielectric interfaces. The continuum two-temperature heat conduction model is shown to capture the apparent size dependence of the thermal interface resistance of Au nanoparticle suspensions. Consideration of coupling between electrons and atomic vibrations is important in understanding energy transport in nanoscale metallic structures suspended in a dielectric medium.