Fiches de cours

Nano-scale heat transfer

ME-469

Enseignant(s) :

Tagliabue Giulia

Langue:

English

Summary

Micro/nano systems are at the core of numerous established and emerging technologies. This course focuses on the microscopic description of heat transfer and energy conversion. It shows how classical physics laws emerge at larger scales and what unique behaviors are observed at the nanoscale.

Content

Part I: Fundamentals (10 weeks)

1. Energy states

• From classical to quantum harmonic oscillators: material waves and energy quantization (wave-particle duality)
• Energy states in solids (Band structure of crystals, Phonons, Density of states)
• Fundamentals of statistical thermodynamics

2. Energy Transport

• Energy transfer by waves (reflection/transmission and tunneling, energy and momentum of electromagnetic fields)
• Particle description of transport processes (Fourier's law, Newton's shear stress and Ohm's law)

3. Energy conversion

• Photon absorption and charge carrier generation
• Dielectric permittivity of materials

4. Liquids and Interfaces (Optional)

Part II: Applications (4 weeks)

In the second part of the course, starting from recent literature results, we will analyze the functioning of selected state-of-the art systems such as thermoelectric devices, plasmonic devices, nanophotonic surfaces for radiative cooling and others.

Keywords

Heat transfer, nanoscale systems, energy conversion

 

Learning Prerequisites

Important concepts to start the course

Fourier's law, Newton's shear stresses and Ohm's law

Wave equation (will be revised)

Classification of materials

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

• Explain and apply the concepts of heat transfer at the nanoscale (E3)
• Describe and explain the particle VS wave picture of energy transport processes
• Analyze the energy transport regimes of an energy conversion device
• Analyze and characterize a light-energy conversion device
• Assess / Evaluate literature reports of state-of-the-art energy conversion devices

Assessment methods

Theory assessed with mid-term written exam

Group project/presentation including literature review

Resources

Bibliography

Nanoscale energy transport and conversion : a parallel treatment of electrons, molecules, phonons, and photons

Gang Chen; 2005

https://library.epfl.ch/beast?record=ebi01_prod004956565

 

Ressources en bibliothèque

• Nanoscale energy transport and conversion : a parallel treatment of electrons, molecules, phonons, and photons / Chen