Phonon transport in an initially twisted polyvinyl acetate nanofiber

A reduction in phonon thermal conductivity enhances thermoelectric performance. One method to accomplish this is by applying mechanical stress to a nanostructure. We consider an initially twisted 20 nm polyvinyl acetate nanofiber undergoing torsion. Our analytical method uses the continuum approach of Mooney's model. Torsion modifies the phonon dispersion. Angles of twist between 45 degrees and 70 degrees reduce the averaged phonon group velocity and the phonon thermal conductivity but when these angles are increased further, this conductivity increases. This suggests a phonon engineering approach to tune the thermal conductivity of nanomaterials. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.