Electric double layer effect in an extreme near-field heat transfer between metal surfaces

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the electric double layer significantly enhances heat transfer between gold surfaces at nanometer distances, revealing a coupling mechanism that surpasses conventional theories and enabling nanoscale heat management.

Contribution

It introduces a model accounting for electric double layer effects in near-field heat transfer, showing a substantial increase over traditional predictions at sub-3nm gaps.

Findings

Double layer contribution exceeds conventional predictions by orders of magnitude at d < 3nm.

Coupling between electric field and double layer dipoles is the key mechanism.

Results enable engineering of surface parameters for nanoscale heat control.

Abstract

Calculations of heat transfer between two plates of gold in an extreme near field is performed taking into account the existence of the electric double layer on metal surfaces. For d < 3nm the double layer contribution exceeds the predictions of the conversional theory of the heat transfer by several orders of magnitudes. This effect is due to a coupling between the radiation electric field and the double layer dipole moment. The results obtained can be used for the heat management at the nanoscale by intentionally changing the parameters of surface dipoles with the help of engineering.