Thermal transport in polymeric nanostructures (A03)

• Subject Area: Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics ; Experimental and Theoretical Physics of Polymers
• Term: from 2013 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 217133147

Using simulation and experiment, we will investigate the energy transport (i) across the internal interfaces in nanostructured composite materials of amorphous block copolymers, (ii) at the interface between polymers and inorganic nanoparticles and, (iii) at the free surface of polymer materials after mechanical excitation. Energy transport will be controlled by molecular conformations at interfaces and surfaces, by the compressibility of the material, by embedding nanoparticles into specific polymer domains, as well as by changing the orientation and size of the microphase-separated domains through energy input in form of UV light. This may open up pathways to materials with switchable thermal conductivity.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1073: Atomic Scale Control of Energy Conversion
• Applicant Institution: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Marcus Müller; Professor Dr. Philipp Vana