Thermal reffusivity: uncovering phonon behavior, structural defects, and domain size

Abstract

To understand the relation between different nanostructures and thermal properties, a simple yet effective model is in demand for characterizing the underlying phonons and electrons scattering mechanisms. Herein, we make a systematic review on the newly developed thermal reffusivity theory. Like electrical resistivity which has been historically used as a theory for analyzing structural domain size and defect levels of metals, the thermal reffusivity can also uncover phonon behavior, structure defects and domain size of materials. We highlight that this new theory can be used for not only metals, but also nonmetals, even for amorphous materials. From the thermal reffusivity against temperature curves, the Debye temperature of the material and the ideal thermal diffusivity of single perfect crystal can be evaluated. From the residual thermal reffusivity at the 0 K limit, the structural thermal domain (STD) size of crystalline and amorphous materials can be obtained. The difference of white hair and normal black hair from heat conduction perspective is reported for the first time. Loss of melanin results in a worse thermal protection and a larger STD size in the white hair. By reviewing the different variation of thermal reffusivity against decreasing temperature profiles, we conclude that they reflected the structural connection in the materials. Ultimately, the future application of thermal reffusivity theory in studying 2D materials and amorphous materials is discussed.

Keywords

thermal reffusivity theory / phonon behavior / structure defects / structural thermal domain (STD) size / 2D material / amorphous material

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Acknowledgment

Support of this work by National Science Foundation (CBET1235852, CMMI1264399), Department of Energy (DENE0000671, DE-EE0007686), and Iowa Energy Center (MG-16-025, OG-17-005) is gratefully acknowledged. Y. Xie is grateful to the China Scholarship Council for the great support.

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