Baek, Jae Yun Shin, Gilyong Lee, Ju Hwan Yun, Sungryul Jeon, Jei Gyeong Kang, Tae June 2025-03-19T15:31:13Z 2025-03-19T15:31:13Z 2025-03-19 2025-06 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/151917 Thermal diodes enabling asymmetric heat flow via efficiently conducting heat in one direction while blocking it in the opposite direction have great potential for controlling and managing thermal energy. Here, a thermal diode film with a scalable and thin-film form factor is presented, which utilizes thermal contact asymmetry that varies with the direction of heat flow. The proposed thermal diode film is fabricated using two liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) layers separated by an air gap: one surface has a pillar structure, and the other has a hexagonal honeycomb structure. In forward mode, heating the LCE layer with the hexagonal honeycomb structure causes the sidewalls to buckle and contact the pillar structure on the opposite side, facilitating efficient conductive heat transfer. In reverse mode, heating the LCE layer with a pillar structure causes it to contract, increasing the gap between the layers with the pillar and hexagonal structures. This increased gap reduces convective heat transfer across the air gap. The thermal contact asymmetry, depending on the direction of heat flow, enables the film to achieve a thermal rectification ratio of approximate to 2.0 over a wide temperature range of 60-100 degrees C. English WILEY Thermal Diode Films with Liquid Crystal Elastomer Microstructures Article 10.1002/sstr.202400558 1 Small Structures, v.6, no.6 Small Structures 6 6 Y scie scopus 001405713100001 2-s2.0-85216255565 Chemistry, Physical Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Materials Science, Multidisciplinary Chemistry Science & Technology - Other Topics Materials Science Article RECTIFICATION MICROSCALE asymmetric heat transfer buckling of hexagonal honeycombs liquid crystal elastomers thermal diodes thermal energy management thermal rectifications