How do Grain Boundaries Influence Thermal Properties?
The role of grain boundaries in thermal conductivity is substantial. They can act as barriers to phonon transport, which is the primary mechanism of heat conduction in non-metallic materials. This can lead to lower thermal conductivity in nanomaterials. However, this property can be advantageous in applications such as thermoelectric materials, where lower thermal conductivity and higher electrical conductivity are desirable for improved efficiency.
