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Gate-Tunable Ionothermoelectric Cooling in a Solid-State Nanopore
Makusu Tsutsui1, Kazumichi Yokota2, Wei-Lun Hsu3
1SANKEN, The University of Osaka, 8-1 Mihogaoka, Osaka, Ibaraki 567-0047, Japan.
ACS Nano
|November 25, 2025
Summary
We demonstrate ionothermoelectric cooling using solid-state nanopores, an ionic Peltier effect. This electrically tunable method offers a new strategy for nanoscale thermal management in microelectronics.
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Thermoelectrics
- Fluidics
Background:
- Efficient heat dissipation is crucial for high-performance microelectronics.
- Nanoscale thermal management presents significant challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate ionothermoelectric cooling using gate-tunable solid-state nanopores.
- To explore the ionic analogue of the Peltier effect for active thermal management.
Main Methods:
- Integration of nanoscale thermocouples with gate-tunable solid-state nanopores.
- Quantitative mapping of local thermal responses to voltage-induced ion transport.
- Modulation of ion transport and permselectivity via electrostatic gating.
Main Results:
- Observation of ionic heating dependent on input power and ion species.
- Demonstration of ionic cooling under salt concentration gradients due to directional cation transport.
- Achieved reversible heating/cooling transitions with temperature drops exceeding 2 K via electrostatic gating.
Conclusions:
- Ionothermoelectric cooling is a viable mechanism for active, electrically tunable thermal management in nanofluidic systems.
- This approach can enhance heat-pumping efficiency in micro- and nanofluidic architectures.
- Establishes a scalable on-chip ionic refrigeration strategy for next-generation semiconductor thermal control.
