Light-triggered thermal conductivity switching in azobenzene polymers

Materials that can be switched between low and high thermal conductivity states would advance the control and conversion of thermal energy. Employing in situ time-domain thermoreflectance (TDTR) and in situ synchrotron X-ray scattering, we report a reversible, light-responsive azobenzene polymer that switches between high (0.35 W m −1 K −1 ) and low thermal conductivity (0.10 W m −1 K −1 ) states. This threefold change in the thermal...