What are phonons and their role in nanoscale heat transfer?
Phonons are quantized vibrations of atoms in a crystal lattice and act as the primary heat carriers in non-metallic solids. At the nanoscale, the mean free path of phonons can be comparable to the size of the material, which can lead to ballistic transport. This means that phonons can travel across the material with minimal scattering, affecting the thermal conductivity and overall heat transfer properties.
