journal article·2026-02-02Open access

Topochemical Reaction Induces Anisotropy, Decreasing Solid-State Thermal Conductivity

Amalie Atassi, Sara Makarem, James F. Ponder, Alex H. Balzer, Joshua M. Rinehart, Shawn A. Gregory, Valentina Pirela, Jaime Martín, Patrick E. Hopkins, Natalie Stingelin, Shannon K. Yee

ACS Materials Letters· Volume 8· Issue 2

Abstract

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Realizing organic materials that exhibit a dynamic thermal conductivity requires a fundamental understanding of how molecular structure and processing affect thermal transport. Herein, we demonstrate that the photoinduced polymerization of [2,2′-bi-1 H -indene]-1,1′-dione-3,3′-diheptylcarboxylate (BIT) into polyBIT results in over a 4-fold decrease in thermal conductivity as measured on polycrystalline thin-films in the through-plane direction, mostly perpendicular to the chain growth direction. Experimental determination of the material’s decreased heat capacity supports this view. Through theoretical calculations, we attribute this decrease in thermal conductivity in part to induced anisotropy in the polymer. We also discuss the non-negligible changes in morphology, phase transitions, and thermal degradation that serve to limit the thermal depolymerization reaction. This work highlights the different contributions one must consider when designing an organic thermal switch that operates in the solid-state.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Thermal properties of materials · Thermography and Photoacoustic Techniques · Organic Electronics and Photovoltaics

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

School of Materials Science and Engineering

Georgia Institute of Technology

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

University of Virginia

George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering

Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory

Wright-Patterson AFB

School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

POLYMAT, Department of Polymers and Advanced Materials: Physics, Chemistry, and Technology and Faculty of Chemistry

University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU

Universidade da Coruña, Campus Industrial de Ferrol, CITENI

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Department of Physics

Funding

Energy Frontier Research Centers · National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program · Georgia Institute of Technology · Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovaci?n y Universidades · European Regional Development Fund · Office of Naval Research · National GEM Consortium · National Institutes of Health · National Science Foundation · Link Energy Foundation

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