Nanoscale contact state design for nodal energy transfer at crossed Ag nanowires

The thermal conduction properties of the cross-junction formed by one pair of Ag nanowires were characterized using experiments and simulations. By laser-sintering crossed nanowires on a substrate on which the Ag ion complex ink was dispersed, we succeeded in visualizing the heat flow trajectory of the junction according to the application of energy. To theoretically understand the energy transfer behavior at the junctions, Ag nanowires with penta-twinned cross-sections were modeled by all-atom molecular dynamics simulations. The equilibrium and non-equilibrium simulation results showed the structural stability at the interface junction, convergence of heat flux in an unsteady state, and effective thermal conductivity of the entire system in a steady state. In particular, we focused on the dependence of the diameter on the nanoscale region, which is the most important design variable for Ag nanowires. Accordingly, a structure–property relationship governed by the nanoscale geometry of the junction was identified.