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Reversible temperature regulation of electrical and thermal conductivity using liquid–solid phase transitions

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  • Ruiting Zheng

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue
    Key Laboratory of Radiation Beam Technology and Materials Modification of Ministry of Education, College of Nuclear Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University)

  • Jinwei Gao

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue
    School of Physics and Telecommunication Engineering, South China Normal University)

  • Jianjian Wang

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue)

  • Gang Chen

    (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue)

Abstract

Reversible temperature tuning of electrical and thermal conductivities of materials is of interest for many applications, including seasonal regulation of building temperature, thermal storage and sensors. Here we introduce a general strategy to achieve large contrasts in electrical and thermal conductivities using first-order phase transitions in percolated composite materials. Internal stress generated during a phase transition modulates the electrical and thermal contact resistances, leading to large contrasts in the electrical and thermal conductivities at the phase transition temperature. With graphite/hexadecane suspensions, the electrical conductivity changes 2 orders of magnitude and the thermal conductivity varies up to 3.2 times near 18 °C. The generality of the approach is also demonstrated in other materials such as graphite/water and carbon nanotube/hexadecane suspensions.

Suggested Citation

  • Ruiting Zheng & Jinwei Gao & Jianjian Wang & Gang Chen, 2011. "Reversible temperature regulation of electrical and thermal conductivity using liquid–solid phase transitions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 2(1), pages 1-6, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:2:y:2011:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms1288
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1288
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    Cited by:

    1. Karanafti, Aikaterina & Theodosiou, Theodoros & Tsikaloudaki, Katerina, 2022. "Assessment of buildings’ dynamic thermal insulation technologies-A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 326(C).

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