Effects of Surface Charge and Electric Field on the Interfacial Thermal Resistance at Liquid/Solid Interfaces

S Ge and M Chen, ACTA PHYSICO-CHIMICA SINICA, 28, 2939-2943 (2012).

DOI: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB201209042

The effect of an applied electric field and the surface charge on the interfacial thermal resistance between water and solid has been studied using nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. The results reveal that the electric field decreases the water-solid interfacial thermal resistance when it is perpendicular to the interface. However, it shows that the electric field has a negligible effect on the thermal resistance when it is parallel to the interface. Both positively and negatively charged surfaces decrease the interfacial thermal resistance. The relationship between the interfacial thermal resistance and the surface charge density and electric field strength is a quadratic function. This study demonstrates that applying an external electric field or a surface charge are effective ways of manipulating the interfacial thermal resistance.

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