Suppressed thermal transport in silicon nanoribbons by inhomogeneous strain. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38750362/)

These scientists wanted to understand how bending tiny silicon nanoribbons can affect how heat moves through them. They used a special device they made to bend the nanoribbons and then measured how well they conducted heat. They found that when the nanoribbons were bent, the heat conductivity was reduced by a lot compared to when they were not bent. They also looked at the vibrations of the nanoribbons very closely and found that the vibrations changed along the bent nanoribbons. This change in vibrations made it harder for heat to flow through the nanoribbons. This study helps us understand how materials behave when they are bent in different ways, which is important for making new and better materials for the future.

Yang L., Yue S., Tao Y., Qiao S., Li H., Dai Z., Song B., Chen Y., Du J., Li D., Gao P. Suppressed thermal transport in silicon nanoribbons by inhomogeneous strain. Nature. 2024 May 15. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07390-4.