Methods, devices, and systems for control of heat transfer using spin crossover
AssigneePresident and Fellows of Harvard College
InventorsJarad A. Mason, Jinyoung Seo, Ryan McGillicuddy, Jason Braun, Rahil Ukani
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Abstract
The invention provides methods, devices, and systems for applications requiring control of heat transfer, such as thermal management of electronic device, cooling, heating, and energy storage. The invention provides a method of controlling the flow of heat by providing a device including a spin crossover material having a low spin state and a high spin state, where the low spin state has higher thermal conductivity than the high spin state, and where the spin crossover material undergoes spin crossover between the low and high spin states in response to a stimulus.
Claims23
A method of controlling the flow of heat comprising:
- a) providing a device comprising a spin crossover material having a low spin state and a high spin state, wherein the low spin state has higher thermal conductivity than the high spin state, and wherein the spin crossover material undergoes spin crossover between the low and high spin states in response to a stimulus;
- b) providing a temperature difference across the spin crossover material;
- and
- c) applying the stimulus to control the flow of heat across the spin crossover material.
A method of storing heat energy, comprising:
- a) providing a device or system comprising:
- i) a spin crossover material having a low spin state and a high spin state, wherein the low spin state has higher thermal conductivity than the high spin state, and wherein the spin crossover material undergoes spin crossover between the low spin state and high spin state in response to a first stimulus and between the high spin state and low spin state in response to a second stimulus;
- and
- ii) a heat sink in thermal contact with the spin crossover material;
- b) flowing heat energy from a heat source through the spin crossover material into the heat sink while the spin crossover material is in the low spin state;
- c) applying the first stimulus to switch the material to the high spin state to store the heat energy.
A method of heating or cooling, comprising:
- a) providing heat energy to a caloric material through a spin crossover material having a low spin state and a high spin state, wherein the low spin state has higher thermal conductivity than the high spin state, and wherein the spin crossover material undergoes spin crossover between the low spin state and high spin state in response to a first stimulus and between the high spin state and low spin state in response to a second stimulus, wherein the heat energy is provided while the spin crossover material is in the low spin state;
- b) applying the first stimulus to switch the spin crossover material to the high spin state;
- c) inducing the caloric material to release the heat energy;
- and
- d) applying a second stimulus to the spin crossover material to change to the low spin state.
A device for controlling heat flow comprising a spin crossover material having a low spin state and a high spin state, wherein the low spin state has higher thermal conductivity than the high spin state, and wherein the spin crossover material undergoes spin crossover between the low spin state and high spin state in response to a first stimulus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.