University of California Energy Institute

We report a theoretical study of nanoscale heat conduction across nanolaminates consisting of alternating layers of metal and dielectric materials. Nanolaminates are promising as thermal barrier coatings for energy generation and conversion applications because they offer unique opportunities to achieve superior thermal performance without compromising mechanical strength or chemical protection characteristics. A continuum two-fluid energy transport equation is solved to predict the thermal resistance of a metallic film bounded by dielectric materials. Analysis of existing experimental data is consistent with the present model, suggesting that electron-phonon spatial nonequilibrium plays an important role in heat conduction across metal-dielectric interfaces.