Abstract The development of a nanoscale thermal switch is a crucial step toward advanced thermal management systems including future thermal logic gates and computers. This study demonstrates a new nanoscale thermal switch mechanism using controlled, morphological transition from adsorption to capillary state in a novel gas-filled nanostructure, i.e., a nanogap with controllable nanoposts on one surface only. The degree of thermal switch, S, at given gas pressures are predicted using Ar-filled Pt-based nanostructures and Non-Equilibrium Molecular Dynamics (NEMD) simulation combined with Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation. It is found that S increases by increasing the height of the nanoposts and temperature difference across the nanostructure, and decreasing the interpost spacings, with the maximum degree of switch, Smax ∼ 45 and ∼ 170 for ΔT = 10 K and 60 K, respectively, for the nanogap size of 5 nm. It is also observed that a stronger solid-fluid surface interaction results in a wider switch operating temperature window.

中文翻译：

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在异质纳米结构中使用受控毛细管转变的热开关

摘要 纳米级热开关的发展是迈向包括未来热逻辑门和计算机在内的先进热管理系统的关键一步。该研究展示了一种新的纳米级热开关机制，该机制在新型充气纳米结构中使用受控的、从吸附状态到毛细管状态的形态转变，即仅在一个表面上具有可控纳米柱的纳米间隙。使用 Ar 填充的 Pt 基纳米结构和非平衡分子动力学 (NEMD) 模拟结合 Grand Canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) 模拟来预测给定气压下的热开关程度 S。发现 S 通过增加纳米柱的高度和纳米结构上的温差以及减小柱间距而增加，切换程度最大，对于 5 nm 的纳米间隙尺寸，对于 ΔT = 10 K 和 60 K，Smax 分别为 45 和 170。还观察到更强的固液表面相互作用导致更宽的开关操作温度窗口。