The design of a thermal rectifier

TL;DR

This paper explores the concept and design principles of a thermal rectifier, a solid-state device that allows heat to flow preferentially in one direction, based on fundamental heat conduction laws.

Contribution

It provides a clear analysis and a simple model demonstrating how to design a thermal rectifier using appropriate material properties.

Findings

Feasibility of thermal rectifier design shown through a simple model

Design principles based on heat conduction laws explained

Materials with specific properties can enable rectification

Abstract

The idea that one can build a solid-state device that lets heat flow more easily in one way than in the other, forming a heat valve, is counter-intuitive. However the design of a thermal rectifier can be easily understood from the basic laws of heat conduction. Here we show how it can be done. This analysis exhibits several ideas that could in principle be implemented to design a thermal rectifier, by selecting materials with the proper properties. In order to show the feasibility of the concept, we complete this study by introducing a simple model system that meets the requirements of the design.