Janus particles stabilized asymmetric porous composites for thermal rectification

Abstract Thermal rectification is a noteworthy phenomenon of asymmetric material, which enables the directional transfer of thermal energy. But the design and construction of such asymmetric thermal conductive materials with complex structures are full of challenges. Here, an additive manufacturing...

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Main Authors: Chao Jiang, Xiao Yang, Xingmei He, Chunyang Wang, Haisheng Chen, Xinghua Zheng, Fuxin Liang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60792-4
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author Chao Jiang
Xiao Yang
Xingmei He
Chunyang Wang
Haisheng Chen
Xinghua Zheng
Fuxin Liang
author_facet Chao Jiang
Xiao Yang
Xingmei He
Chunyang Wang
Haisheng Chen
Xinghua Zheng
Fuxin Liang
author_sort Chao Jiang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Thermal rectification is a noteworthy phenomenon of asymmetric material, which enables the directional transfer of thermal energy. But the design and construction of such asymmetric thermal conductive materials with complex structures are full of challenges. Here, an additive manufacturing method is proposed to fabricate asymmetric porous composites from layer-by-layer cast emulsions, stabilized with Janus particles (JPs), for thermal rectification. The emulsions are remarkably stable, allowing each layer to be manipulated independently without interference, resulting in a porous structure with significant asymmetry. The thermal rectification of JPs-stabilized asymmetric porous composites (JAPCs) is investigated through both experiments and simulations. It is found that their thermal rectification ratios can be adjusted by altering the contrast between the two layers of the asymmetric porous composites, with a maximum value of 38%. This emulsion casting additive manufacturing method is suitable for large-scale production. A simple model demonstrates the potential of JAPCs to regulate thermal energy in ambient conditions with fluctuating temperatures. It is explored to achieve multilayer alternating porous composites, which cannot be achieved with gradient asymmetric approaches. This method provides a practical way to design and fabricate complicated porous structures with potential applications in additive manufacturing.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-00a7512064d640ac84e69817d2d8666c2025-08-20T03:45:35ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111110.1038/s41467-025-60792-4Janus particles stabilized asymmetric porous composites for thermal rectificationChao Jiang0Xiao Yang1Xingmei He2Chunyang Wang3Haisheng Chen4Xinghua Zheng5Fuxin Liang6Institute of Polymer Science and Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityInstitute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Polymer Science and Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityInstitute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Polymer Science and Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityAbstract Thermal rectification is a noteworthy phenomenon of asymmetric material, which enables the directional transfer of thermal energy. But the design and construction of such asymmetric thermal conductive materials with complex structures are full of challenges. Here, an additive manufacturing method is proposed to fabricate asymmetric porous composites from layer-by-layer cast emulsions, stabilized with Janus particles (JPs), for thermal rectification. The emulsions are remarkably stable, allowing each layer to be manipulated independently without interference, resulting in a porous structure with significant asymmetry. The thermal rectification of JPs-stabilized asymmetric porous composites (JAPCs) is investigated through both experiments and simulations. It is found that their thermal rectification ratios can be adjusted by altering the contrast between the two layers of the asymmetric porous composites, with a maximum value of 38%. This emulsion casting additive manufacturing method is suitable for large-scale production. A simple model demonstrates the potential of JAPCs to regulate thermal energy in ambient conditions with fluctuating temperatures. It is explored to achieve multilayer alternating porous composites, which cannot be achieved with gradient asymmetric approaches. This method provides a practical way to design and fabricate complicated porous structures with potential applications in additive manufacturing.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60792-4
spellingShingle Chao Jiang
Xiao Yang
Xingmei He
Chunyang Wang
Haisheng Chen
Xinghua Zheng
Fuxin Liang
Janus particles stabilized asymmetric porous composites for thermal rectification
Nature Communications
title Janus particles stabilized asymmetric porous composites for thermal rectification
title_full Janus particles stabilized asymmetric porous composites for thermal rectification
title_fullStr Janus particles stabilized asymmetric porous composites for thermal rectification
title_full_unstemmed Janus particles stabilized asymmetric porous composites for thermal rectification
title_short Janus particles stabilized asymmetric porous composites for thermal rectification
title_sort janus particles stabilized asymmetric porous composites for thermal rectification
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60792-4
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