Nanostructured Metasurfaces for Passive Cooling and Thermal Transparency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermal management solutions for electronic components are inefficient in achieving both thermal transparency and passive cooling, particularly in the infrared spectrum.
Innovation Solution
Development of thermal-nanostructured metamaterials with nanostructures having aspect ratios greater than or equal to 1, formed from materials like PDMS, which provide high transmissivity and emissivity in the infrared range, enabling both thermal transparency and passive cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional thermal management solutions are used, then thermal control is achieved, but thermal transparency and passive cooling efficiency are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the coating material by introducing nanostructures with specific aspect ratios (≥1) and controlling the refractive index (≤1.75). These parameter changes enable the coating to achieve high transmissivity (>80%) in the 8-13 µm atmospheric window, facilitating passive cooling while maintaining thermal transparency for sensing applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures combining PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) with metallic nanoparticles (silver, aluminum, or zinc oxide). This composite approach creates a material that simultaneously achieves optical transparency in the visible range, high transmissivity in the infrared atmospheric window, and tailored thermal emission properties, resolving the contradiction between thermal management and energy efficiency.
2Loss of energy
If the coating material provides high emissivity for passive cooling, then cooling efficiency improves, but thermal transparency for non-contact sensing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating nanostructures with specific aspect ratios and material compositions that exhibit different optical properties at different wavelengths. The coating has high emissivity localized in the 8-13 µm atmospheric window for passive cooling, while maintaining high transmissivity in the same range for thermal sensing, and optical transparency in the visible range. This wavelength-selective local quality resolution allows simultaneous achievement of cooling and sensing functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the dynamic interaction between incident electromagnetic radiation and the nanostructured coating, where the coating's optical response varies with wavelength. The varying transmissivity and emissivity characteristics across different spectral ranges enable the system to dynamically optimize both passive cooling and thermal sensing performance without compromise.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The nanostructured metamaterials achieve greater than 80% transmissivity for electromagnetic radiation in the 2-14 µm range, facilitating efficient thermal management and non-contact temperature sensing.
Implementation Method 1
nanostructures that include a refractive index of less than or equal to 1.75... achieve greater than 80% transmissivity for electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength range of 8000 nm to 12,000 nm inclusive
Implementation Method 2
Radiative passive cooling and heating via metasurfaces and nanostructured surfaces... passive cooling for electronic components
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A nanostructure device includes a substrate and nanostructures formed on and in contact with at least a top surface of the substrate. The nanostructures are substantially uniformly distributed across a predetermined area of the substrate, a number of the nanostructures have a nominal aspect ratio greater than or equal to 1, and the nanostructures are exposed to electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength between 2000 nm and 14,000 nm inclusive. In one embodiment, the nanostructures have a refractive index of less than or equal to 1.75, and the nanostructure has a transmissivity of greater than 80% for electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength between 2000 nm and 14,000 nm inclusive. In another embodiment, the nanostructures have a refractive index of greater than or equal to 1.75, and the nanostructure device has an emissivity of greater than 45% for electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength between 8000 nm and 13,000 nm inclusive.