How Does Boundary Scattering Influence Thermal Conductivity?
Similar to electrons, phonons (quanta of lattice vibrations responsible for heat conduction) can also undergo boundary scattering. In nanoscale materials, the reduction in phonon mean free path due to frequent boundary interactions can lead to decreased thermal conductivity. This property is exploited in [thermoelectric materials]() where low thermal conductivity is desirable for efficient energy conversion. However, in applications requiring high thermal conductivity, such as in thermal management of electronic devices, boundary scattering poses a challenge.
