Importance of the fundamental entropy for determining interfacial thermal resistance temperature jump differences

What is it about?

The work explains why the interfacial thermal resistance in solid-water-solid systems are different on the hot solid-water interface than on the cold solid-water interface when a constant heat flux is flowing through the system. The calculations show that the temperature jump on the hot side must be higher than on the cold side caused by a difference in entropy flux associating the steady heat flux. Hence, the result is that the interfacial thermal resistance also must be higher on the hot interface than on the cold side.

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Why is it important?

Interfacial thermal resistance is important in all systems where heat is propagating over interfaces either in or out of systems. Some times heat should be dissipated as quickly as possible, some times the other way. In either case, being able to enhance or suppress heat flow at interfaces require knowledge about the fundamental reasons determining its magnitude. The work could contribute to this knowledge as it identifies two contributions to the interfacial thermal resistance, heat and entropy fluxes, rather than only the heat flux.

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