(College of Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University) Researchers create a polymer thermal regulator that can quickly transform from a conductor to an insulator, and back again. This control of heat flow at the nanoscale opens up new possibilities in developing switchable thermal devices, solid-state refrigeration, waste heat scavenging, thermal circuits, and computing. This is the first time that this work has been demonstrated experimentally.

Original source: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-12/coec-can121619.php