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

Ruiting Zheng, Jinwei Gao, Jianjian Wang and Gang Chen ()
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Ruiting Zheng: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue
Jinwei Gao: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue
Jianjian Wang: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue
Gang Chen: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue

Nature Communications, 2011, vol. 2, issue 1, 1-6

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2011
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1288

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