A method includes exposing a non-aqueous solution to ultraviolet illumination, where the non-aqueous solution includes one or more lanthanide elements and one or more photo-initiators. The method also includes producing lanthanide nanoparticles using the non-aqueous solution. The non-aqueous solution could be formed by mixing a first non-aqueous solution including the one or more lanthanide elements and a second non-aqueous solution including the one or more photo-initiators. The non-aqueous solution could include one or more metallic salts, where each metallic salt includes at least one lanthanide element. The one or more metallic salts could include erbium chloride, and the one or more photo-initiators could include benzophenone. The non-aqueous solution could include an organic solvent, such as an alcohol.

A cycling heat dissipation module suited for dissipating heat generated from a heat source is provided. The cycling heat dissipation module includes an evaporator, a condenser, and a micro/nano-structure. The evaporator is thermal contacted with the heat source to absorb heat generated therefrom. The condenser is connected to the evaporator to form a loop, and a working fluid is filled in the loop. The working fluid in liquid state is transformed to vapor state by absorbing heat in the evaporator, and the working fluid in vapor state is transformed to liquid state by dissipating heat in the condenser. The micro/nano-structure is disposed in the condenser to destroy a boundary layer of the working fluid while passing through the condenser.

Microfluidic devices, along with methods of their fabrication, are provided. The microfluidic device can include a substrate defining a microchannel formed between a pair of side walls and a bottom surface and a plurality of nanotips positioned within the microchannel and proximate to each side wall such that a boundary layer is formed along each side wall between the plurality of nanotips and the side wall upon addition of a liquid into the microchannel.

A method of manufacturing an electronic device includes: placing a resin film on a component; and while heating the resin film to be softened, pressing end portions of a plurality of carbon nanotubes against the softened resin film to bring the end portions into contact with the component, and causing the softened resin film to climb up side surfaces of the carbon nanotubes.

A thermal transistor is provided. The thermal transistor includes a metallic thermal conductor, a non-metallic thermal conductor, and a thermal resistance adjusting unit. The metallic thermal conductor and the non-metallic thermal conductor are contact with each other to form a thermal interface. The thermal resistance adjusting unit is configured to generate an electric field at the thermal interface.

A thermal transistor is provided. The thermal transistor includes a metallic thermal conductor, a non-metallic thermal conductor, and a thermal resistance adjusting unit. The metallic thermal conductor and the non-metallic thermal conductor are contact with each other to form a thermal interface. The thermal resistance adjusting unit is configured to generate an bias voltage U.sub.12 between the metallic thermal conductor and the non-metallic thermal conductor.

An apparatus and heat transfer system, the apparatus comprising: a substrate; a plurality of nucleation sites provided on the substrate; a nanostructured surface surrounding the nucleation sites arranged to enable coalescence induced droplet jumping; wherein both the plurality of nucleation sites and the nanostructured surface are hydrophobic.

Devices configured to direct heat flow are disclosed, as well as methods of forming thereof. A device may include a self-assembling heat flow object. The self-assembling heat flow object may include a material having one or more self-assembling properties that cause the material to react to an environmental stimulus and one or more thermal pathways. An application of the environmental stimulus causes the self-assembling heat flow object to deploy and arrange the one or more thermal pathways for directing thermal energy to one or more locations.

Clean condensate production may be produced from humidity in unfiltered air for an extended period of time using a membrane microgravity air conditioner which comprises an air box, comprising an inlet air flow path from a side face through an open top, and a filtering system disposed within the air box. The filtering system comprises one or more trash screens disposed in the inlet air flow path, one or more latent heat exchangers (LHX) disposed in the inlet air flow path, one or more particulate filters disposed in the inlet air flow path intermediate the trash screen and the LHX, one or more thermal control system (TCS) medium temperature loops, and one or more sensible heat exchangers (SHX) disposed in the inlet air flow path intermediate the particulate filter and the LHX.

Methods and apparatus for creating an interface between a surface and a substrate, where the thermal conductivity of the substrate exceeds that of the surface. At least one of the surface and the substrate is subtractively nanostructured to create a nanostructured surface, each nanostructured surface is functionalized, and the surface is bonded to the substrate. The nanostructured surface may be functionalized using at least one of the processes of surface acid etching, oxygen plasma etching, atomic layer deposition, sputtering, e-beam deposition, and ion-beam bombardment or implantation, with or without subsequent reflow.