Tunable liquid-solid hybrid thermal metamaterials with a topology transition

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Materials Science
• Thermodynamics

Background:

• Conventional thermal metamaterials are limited by effective heat conduction and Onsager reciprocity.
• Advanced applications like chip cooling and biomedical devices require enhanced heat transport control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore thermal metamaterials beyond effective heat conduction by incorporating thermal convection.
• To demonstrate a tunable thermal metamaterial with a continuous switch between thermal cloaking and concentration.

Main Methods:

• Designed a liquid-solid hybrid thermal metamaterial.
• Incorporated thermal convection to break Onsager reciprocity.
• Utilized external tuning of liquid flow to control heat transport.

Main Results:

• Achieved a continuous switch from thermal cloaking to thermal concentration in a single device.
• Demonstrated a topology transition in the thermotic transformation space via liquid flow control.
• Showcased unprecedented heat transport manipulation capabilities.

Conclusions:

• Complex multicomponent thermal metamaterials enable extraordinary heat transport.
• Breaking Onsager reciprocity opens a new regime for thermal metamaterials and transformation thermotics.
• External control of liquid flow provides a novel pathway for dynamic heat manipulation.