Very large thermal rectification in bulk composites consisting partly of icosahedral quasicrystals

Abstract

The bulk thermal rectifiers usable at a high temperature above 300 K were developed by making full use of the unusual electron thermal conductivity of icosahedral quasicrystals. The unusual electron thermal conductivity was caused by a synergy effect of quasiperiodicity and by a narrow pseudogap at the Fermi level. The rectification ratio, defined by TRR=, reached vary large values exceeding 2.0. This significant thermal rectification would lead to new practical applications for the heat management.