Heat conduction in graphene flakes with inhomogeneous mass interface

TL;DR

This study uses molecular dynamics simulations to analyze how inhomogeneous mass interfaces in graphene flakes affect heat conduction, revealing decreased thermal conductivity without rectification effects.

Contribution

It provides new insights into heat transfer mechanisms in graphene with mass inhomogeneity, highlighting the role of interfacial scattering of solitons.

Findings

Mass interface reduces thermal conductivity

No thermal rectification observed

Interfacial soliton scattering explains results

Abstract

Using nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations, we study the heat conduction in graphene flakes composed by two regions. One region is mass-loaded and the other one is intact. It is found that the mass interface between the two regions greatly decreases the thermal conductivity, but it would not bring thermal rectification effect. The dependence of thermal conductivity upon the heat flux and the mass difference ratio are studied to confirm the generality of the result. The interfacial scattering of solitons is studied to explain the absence of rectification effect.