Solution phase growth and analysis of super-thin zigzag tin selenide nanoribbons

Tin selenide (SnSe), a highly promising layered material, has been garnering particular interest in recent times due to its significant promise for future energy devices. Herein we report a simple solution phase approach for growing highly crystalline layered SnSe nanoribbons. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was used as a templating agent to selectively passivates the (100) and (001) facets of the SnSe nanoribbons resulting in the unique growth of nanoribbons along their b-axis with a defined zigzag edge state along the sidewalls. The SnSe nanoribbons are few layers thick (~ 20 layers), with mean widths of ~40 nm, and achievable length of > 1 m. Nanoribbons could be produced in relatively high quantities (>150 mg) in a single batch experiment. The PVP coating also offer some resistance to oxidation, with removal of the PVP seen to lead to the formation a SnSe/SnOx core shell structure. The use of non-toxic PVP to replace toxic amines that are typically employed for other 1D forms of SnSe is a significant advantage for sustainable and environmentally friendly applications. Heat transport properties of the SnSe nanoribbons, derived from power dependent Raman spectroscopy, demonstrate the potential of SnSe nanoribbons as thermoelectric material.

The qutrit as a heat diode and circulator

We investigate the heat transport properties of a three-level system coupled to three thermal baths, assuming a model based on superconducting circuit implementations. The system-bath coupling is mediated by resonators which serve as frequency filters for the different qutrit transitions. Taking into account the finite quality factors of the resonators, we find thermal rectification and circulation effects not expected in configurations with perfectly-filtered couplings. Heat leakage in off-resonant transitions can be exploited to make the system work as an ideal diode where heat flows in the same direction between two baths irrespective of the sign of the temperature difference, as well as a perfect heat circulator whose state is phase-reversible.

Controlling the thermal conductivity of multilayer graphene by strain

Straintronics is a new concept to enhance electronic device performances by strain for next-generation information sensors and energy-saving technologies. The lattice deformation in graphene can modulate the thermal conductivity because phonons are the main heat carriers. However, the device fabrication process affects graphene’s heat transport properties due to its high stretchability. This study experimentally investigates the change in the thermal conductivity when biaxial tensile strain is applied to graphene. To eliminate non-strain factors, two mechanisms are considered: pressure-induced and electrostatic attraction–induced strain. Raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy precisely estimate the strain. The thermal conductivity of graphene decreases by approximately 70% with a strain of only 0.1%. Such thermal conductivity controllability paves the way for applying graphene as high-efficiency thermal switches and diodes in future thermal management devices.

A numerical frame work of magnetically driven Powell-Eyring nanofluid using single phase model

The current investigation aims to examine heat transfer as well as entropy generation analysis of Powell-Eyring nanofluid moving over a linearly expandable non-uniform medium. The nanofluid is investigated in terms of heat transport properties subjected to a convectively heated slippery surface. The effect of a magnetic field, porous medium, radiative flux, nanoparticle shapes, viscous dissipative flow, heat source, and Joule heating are also included in this analysis. The modeled equations regarding flow phenomenon are presented in the form of partial-differential equations (PDEs). Keller-box technique is utilized to detect the numerical solutions of modeled equations transformed into ordinary-differential equations (ODEs) via suitable similarity conversions. Two different nanofluids, Copper-methanol (Cu-MeOH) as well as Graphene oxide-methanol (GO-MeOH) have been taken for our study. Substantial results in terms of sundry variables against heat, frictional force, Nusselt number, and entropy production are elaborate graphically. This work’s noteworthy conclusion is that the thermal conductivity in Powell-Eyring phenomena steadily increases in contrast to classical liquid. The system’s entropy escalates in the case of volume fraction of nanoparticles, material parameters, and thermal radiation. The shape factor is more significant and it has a very clear effect on entropy rate in the case of GO-MeOH nanofluid than Cu-MeOH nanofluid.

Atomistic insight in the flexibility and heat transport properties of the stimuli-responsive metal–organic framework MIL-53(Al) for water-adsorption applications using molecular simulations

Insight into the heat transport and water-adsorption properties of the flexible MIL-53(Al) is obtained using advanced molecular dynamics simulations.