Topology-induced thermal rectification in carbon nanodevice

Abstract

The thermal rectification (TR) effect in a topological system, Möbius graphene strip, is studied by nonequilibrium molecular-dynamics simulation with Nóse-Hoover heat baths. Due to the nonlinear interaction in graphene and the topological asymmetry of the Möbius strip, the TR phenomenon emerges and the value of TR can be as large as 120%. This topology-induced TR is not very sensitive to the temperature and size of the system; while the position of heat bath is important, since it can induce additional asymmetry. © 2010 EPLA.