New thermal diode technology could steer heat one way, preventing overheating and prolonging battery life in phones and other devices.
Researchers develop a “thermal diode” that could control heat flow and extend battery life.
Phones, electric vehicles, and other devices that run hot might soon have a powerful new tool keeping them cool. Engineers at the University of Houston have developed a novel thermal management technique that works like a “thermal diode,” allowing heat to flow in only one direction. This breakthrough, rooted in a concept called thermal rectification, has been developed by Bo Zhao, an award-winning and internationally recognized engineering professor at the Cullen College of Engineering, and his doctoral student, Sina Jafari Ghalekohneh. The new technology could, in theory, help electronics keep hot spots under control, potentially extending battery life and preventing overheating, as published in Physical Review Research.
Current smartphones and portable electronics often struggle with heat because traditional materials let thermal energy travel freely in all directions.
