Scale effects induced by imperfect interfaces in nanomaterials transport properties
Résumé
One of the crucial factors governing the physical properties of nanomaterials is the complex behavior of the interfaces[1]. While at the macroscopic level their specific role is usually neglected, in nanostructured systems the properties of the contact between phases have to be carefully defined. The existing theoretical models of real interfaces can be ascribed to two main schemes, the low and the high conducting interfaces. In this work we present a generalized zero-thickness model[2][3] able to combine both the normal resistance of the low conducting scheme and the tangential conductance of the high conducting approach. The generality and the richness of such a model allows us to reproduce and to predict the effective electric, thermal, magnetic or dielectric behavior of imperfect and structured interfaces, which can be found in heterogeneous nanomaterials of technological interest[4]. As a first meaningful application we have applied the model to the analysis of the scale-effects in transport properties of nanocomposites. Moreover, such a model can be applied to the investigation of the thermal behavior of interfaces[5] which turn out to be crucial for heat dissipation in nanodevices. [1] P. L. Palla et al., Phys. Rev. B 80, 054105 (2009) [2] F. Pavanello et al., J. Appl. Phys. 112, 084306 (2012) [3] F. Pavanello et al., J. Appl. Phys. 113, 154310 (2013) [4] S. Yu et al., J. Appl. Phys. 110, 124302 (2011) [5] E. Lampin et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 100, 131906 (2012)