How Does Phonon Transport Change at the Nanoscale?
Phonons, which are quanta of lattice vibrations, play a crucial role in heat conduction. At the nanoscale, phonon transport can be significantly altered due to size effects and boundary scattering. In nanowires and thin films, phonon scattering at the boundaries can reduce the mean free path of phonons, leading to lower thermal conductivity. Additionally, the presence of interfaces in nanocomposites can act as barriers to phonon transport, further reducing thermal conductivity.
