Managing the heat generated from powerful lasers and electronic circuits is an increasingly challenging issue. Conventional cooling systems rely on efficient heat-absorbing fluids, but they are unable to effectively dissipate heat from new smaller, faster technologies. Current systems utilize physical changes to absorb heat, a mode that does not adapt well to increasing requirements for both response rate and magnitude of heat production. A paradigm shift in thermal management technology is necessary to keep pace with technological demands. A change in focus to chemical reactions presents an alternative solution, one with myriad benefits.<br/><br/>Chemical reactions are capable of absorbing more heat per unit mass while acting at faster rates than systems relying on physical changes. Investigation of the molecular-scale heat transfer mechanism and thermal properties of a series of chemical systems will demonstrate how endothermic reactions have the potential to be more effective cooling media than conventional fluids.<br/><br/>The retro-Diels-Alder cycloaddition was used to determine the connection between the thermal properties and chemical systems. The retro-Diels-Alder reaction is ideal for these experiments due to its endothermicity and the wide variety of potential adducts, allowing for tuning of the reaction parameters through structural changes. Nuclear magnetic resonance was used to measure the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for a series of cycloadducts. Measurement of the thermal conductivity of the systems demonstrated the connection between the chemical and thermal properties. These studies will assist in determining the viability of endothermic chemical reactions as novel cooling media with increased heat transfer ability.

Flying into the future of heat management on the wings of chemical reactions

255th National Meeting (2018)

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