Electric field dependence of thermal conductivity in bulk systems and nanosystems with charged mobile defects

Abstract

In systems with charged mobile defects, application of an external electric field modifies the spatial distribution of defects. We obtain the corresponding dependence of the thermal conductivity on the electric field due to the redistribution of defects, both in bulk systems (heat transfer described by Fourier’s law) and in nanosystems (heat transfer described by phonon hydrodynamics). We consider the electric field transverse to the heat flux as well as the electric field parallel to the heat flux; in the latter case, we consider a superlattice composed of alternating layers with defects and without defects. For transverse electric fields, the effective thermal conductivity is increased in bulk systems and decreased in nanosystems. This dependence on the field would allow us to control heat transport in an easy and reversible way without modifying the material.