Solid‐State Thermal Control Devices

TLDR

Solid‑state thermal control devices have emerged over the past decade as compact, reliable alternatives to passive and active systems, offering sharp, nonlinear directional and temperature‑dependent thermal properties that enable more efficient circuits and energy conversion. This article reviews recent progress in the four main classes of solid‑state thermal control devices—diodes, switches, regulators, and transistors. For each class, the authors discuss operation principles, material choices, performance metrics, and theoretically explored architectures that have yet to be experimentally demonstrated.

Abstract

Abstract Over the past decade, solid‐state thermal control devices have emerged as potential candidates for enhanced thermal management and storage. They distinguish themselves from traditional passive thermal management devices in that their thermal properties have sharp, nonlinear dependencies on direction and operating temperature, and can lead to more efficient circuits and energy conversion systems than what is possible today. They also distinguish themselves from traditional active thermal management devices (e.g., fans) in that they have no moving parts and are compact and reliable. In this article, the recent progress in the four broad categories of solid‐state thermal control devices that are under active research is reviewed: diodes, switches, regulators, and transistors. For each class of device, the operation principle, material choices, as well as metrics to compare and contrast performance are discussed. New architectures that are explored theoretically, but not experimentally demonstrated, are also discussed.