The development of basic phononic components for thermal energy management/control in nano/micro structures

Manipulating phonons in nano/micro structures will shed new light on heat energy control and conversion. Here, we briefly review the recent progress in the development of basic components of functional thermal devices. Special attention will be given to theoretical modeling of thermal diodes in nano/micro structures. The experimental realization of thermal rectifiers and thermal memories will also be discussed. Finally, a brief discussion on the challenges and future prospects will be given.