Molecular simulation of thermal transport across hydrophilic interfaces

Using molecular simulations, we have investigated heat transfer across the solid–fluid interface of a silica wafer in contact with water vapor. Our results show that the thermal or Kapitza resistance decreases significantly, as the surface becomes more hydrophilic. This is primarily due to increases in adsorption and absorption at the surface, which enhances the intermolecular collision frequency at the interface. Increasing this frequency also …