Krishna P. Vemuri

Geometrical considerations in the control and manipulation of conductive heat flux in multilayered thermal metamaterials

We indicate the fundamental rationale underlying the control of temperature and the manipulation of thermal flux, with reference to a multilayered composite material. We show that when the orientation of the layers in the composite is physically rotated with respect to a constant temperature gradient, there would then be a corresponding introduction of off-diagonal components in the thermal conductivity tensor and thermal anisotropy is induced. The consequent bending of the heat flux lines is found to depend on both the (i) composite rotation angle and the (ii) ratio of the thermal conductivities of the constituent materials.

Experimental evidence for the bending of heat flux in a thermal metamaterial

Multilayered oriented composites constituted from two materials of different thermal conductivities are shown to have the ability to direct thermal energy. The composites behave as effective media with anisotropic thermal conductivity. The guiding of the heat flux is shown experimentally with bending angle ranging from ∼25° to the maximum possible value of ∼45° (for the considered prototypical composites) with respect to a horizontal temperature gradient—in excellent accord with theoretical estimates and computational simulations. Such thermal metamaterials lay the basis for efficient manipulation of heat and for thermal elements, such as thermal concentrators and cloaks.

Guiding conductive heat flux through thermal metamaterials

Experimental evidence of the bending of heat to desired purpose, in analogy to that of light, through designed placement and orientation of nominally isotropic material is presented. This was done by inducing anisotropy in an effective thermal medium through off-diagonal components in the thermal conductivity tensor. An upward or downward heat flux bending of up to ± 26°, in close agreement with theoretical estimates, was obtained in a metamaterial constituted from thin, stacked layers of copper and stainless steel. Transient observations of heat flow indicate anisotropic energy transport hinging on the relative differences between the elements of the thermal diffusivity tensor.

Anomalous refraction of heat flux in thermal metamaterials

We discuss the possibility of bending of heat flux in a multilayered composite typical to abnormal negative refraction, according to which the horizontal and the vertical components of the incident and refracted heat flux vectors point in the opposite direction. The engineered anisotropy of the thermal conductivity tensor is integral to such effects. We propose practical designs where such anomalous refraction phenomena may be observed and be used for heat flux redirection.

Layered thermal metamaterials for the directing and harvesting of conductive heat

The utility of a metamaterial, assembled from two layers of nominally isotropic materials, for thermal energy re-orientation and harvesting is examined. A study of the underlying phenomena related to heat flux manipulation, exploiting the anisotropy of the thermal conductivity tensor, is a focus. The notion of the assembled metamaterial as an effective thermal medium forms the basis for many of these investigations and will be probed. An overarching aim is to implement in such thermal metamaterials, functionalities well known from light optics, such as reflection and refraction, which in turn may yield insights on efficient thermal lensing. Consequently, the harness and dissipation of heat, which are for example, of much importance in energy conservation and improving electrical device performance, may be accomplished. The possibilities of energy harvesting, through exploiting anisotropic thermopower in the metamaterials is also examined. The review concludes with a brief survey of the outstanding issues and insights needed for further progress.

Enhanced solar evaporation of water from porous media, through capillary mediated forces and surface treatment

The relative influence of the capillary, Marangoni, and hydrophobic forces in mediating the evaporation of water from carbon foam based porous media, in response to incident solar radiation, are investigated. It is indicated that inducing hydrophilic interactions on the surface, through nitric acid treatment of the foams, has a similar effect to reduced pore diameter and the ensuing capillary forces. The efficiency of water evaporation may be parameterized through the Capillary number (Ca), with a lower Ca being preferred. The proposed study is of much relevance to efficient solar energy utilization.

Estimating interfacial thermal conductivity in metamaterials through heat flux mapping

The variability of the thickness as well as the thermal conductivity of interfaces in composites may significantly influence thermal transport characteristics and the notion of a metamaterial as an effective medium. The consequent modulations of the heat flux passage are analytically and experimentally examined through a non-contact methodology using radiative imaging, on a model anisotropic thermal metamaterial. It was indicated that a lower Al layer/silver interfacial epoxy ratio of ∼25 compared to that of a Al layer/alumina interfacial epoxy (of ∼39) contributes to a smaller deviation of the heat flux bending angle.

An approach towards a perfect thermal diffuser

A method for the most efficient removal of heat, through an anisotropic composite, is proposed. It is shown that a rational placement of constituent materials, in the radial and the azimuthal directions, at a given point in the composite yields a uniform temperature distribution in spherical diffusers. Such arrangement is accompanied by a very significant reduction of the source temperature, in principle, to infinitesimally above the ambient temperature and forms the basis for the design of a perfect thermal diffuser with maximal heat dissipation. Orders of magnitude enhanced performance, compared to that obtained through the use of a diffuser constituted from a single material with isotropic thermal conductivity has been observed and the analytical principles underlying the design were validated through extensive computational simulations.

Enhanced Solar Thermal Evaporation of Ethanol–Water Mixtures, through the Use of Porous Media

A significant enhancement of solar irradiation induced evaporation of water, and ethanol-water mixtures, through the use of carbon foam based porous media, is demonstrated. A relationship between the consequent rate of mass loss, with respect to the equilibrium vapor pressure, dynamic viscosity, surface tension, and density, was developed to explain experimental observations. The evaporative heat loss was parametrized through two convective heat transfer coefficients-one related to the surface and another related to the vapor external to the surface. The work promotes a better understanding of thermal processes in binary liquid mixtures with applications ranging from phase separation to distillation and desalination.

Experimental verification of heat flux bending in multilayered thermal metamaterials

We demonstrate heat flux bending in a multilayered composite considering an effective thermal medium approximation. We show that when the orientation of the composite is physically rotated with respect to the applied temperature gradient , that the resultant thermal conductivity tensor can be modified to be anisotropic, with non-zero off- diagonal elements. The resultant anisotropy was found to be dependent on the angle of rotation as well as the ratio of the thermal conductivities of the constituent materials. We experimentally demonstrate the bending of the heat flux in three such multilayered composites made by alternately stacking 2mm layers of copper ~ 391 W/mK and alloy steel ~ 42 W/mK respectively with three different rotation angles. We show that the resultant heat flux vectors in the composites are oriented at an angle with the applied temperature gradient , due to anisotropy in the thermal conductivity. Our experiments and analysis indicate that heat flux does not have to be collinear with the applied temperature gradient, e.g. the temperature gradient in a particular direction can drive heat flux in an orthogonal direction. Our studies have implications in thermal energy management with possible utility in portable electronics, nano-combustible systems, solar energy utilization etc.