As the scale of electronic devices and their components continues to shrink, researchers at Aalto University in Finland are re-examining options for fine-tuning control of the heat generated by electronic components.
Doctoral student Tomi Ruokola, in cooperation with researcher Teemu Ojanen of O.V. Lounasmaa Laboratory, has developed a single-electron diode that allows heat to flow in one direction while blocking the flow in the opposite direction. Under normal circumstances, the flow between different temperatures is symmetric but chaotic, as each temperature seeks to balance the other out. However, with the proper amount of control, the flow can be manipulated in whatever direction is desired, either to remove heat entirely or recycle it for power.
Ruokola hopes that his research will help increase efficiency of energy use and allow future applications in nanoelectronics to develop exponentially in the near future.
