Article, Investigation of Thermal Transport Phenomena in Micro-scale Heat Sinks: Influence of Geometric Architecture and Advanced Material Selection for Nano-electronic Cooling

Investigation of Thermal Transport Phenomena in Micro-scale Heat Sinks: Influence of Geometric Architecture and Advanced Material Selection for Nano-electronic Cooling

Authors

  • Dung Nguyen Trong Faculty of Applied Science, University of Transport Technology, 54 Trieu Khuc, Thanh Xuan, 100000, Hanoi, Vietnam Author
  • Anh Le Duc Faculty of Applied Science, University of Transport Technology, 54 Trieu Khuc, Thanh Xuan, 100000, Hanoi, Vietnam Author
  • Nguyen Dac Dien Faculty of Occupational Safety and Health, Vietnam Trade Union University, 169 Tay Son, Kim Lien, 100000, Hanoi, Vietnam Author
  • Umut SaraÇ Bartın University, Depsartment of Science Education, 74100, Bartın, Türkiye Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.65273/hhit.jna.2026.2.2.036

Keywords:

Heat sink, shape, material, size, heat transfer, COMSOL Multiphysics

Abstract

This study investigates the hydrothermal performance of semiconductor heat sinks through a steady-state Conjugate Heat Transfer (CHT) model utilizing the Finite Volume Method. By examining thermal boundary layer dynamics at the micro-scale interface, the research evaluates the synergistic effects of geometric architecture and material properties. Numerical results demonstrate that copper (Cu) configurations achieve a 2–5 K reduction in base temperature compared to aluminum and Al–Si alloys under equivalent constraints. Circular fin geometries exhibit a 6–10% enhancement in heat dissipation efficiency over square and triangular designs, attributed to optimized effective contact area and streamlined convective flow. Furthermore, increasing fin thickness significantly improves conductive transport, whereas geometric transitions to non-circular profiles exacerbate thermal resistance. These findings provide a robust computational framework for integrating advanced nanomaterials into high-power density cooling systems, establishing a scientific basis for optimizing next-generation nano-electronic thermal management.

 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

[1] K.S. Novoselov, et al., (2024), Graphene-based thermal interface materials: Next-generation cooling for nano-electronics, Nature Nanotechnology, 19(1), 12-25. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-023-01512-w

[2] S. Volz, et al., (2024), Phonon transport and thermal management at the nanoscale, Applied Physics Reviews, 11(1), 011305. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0168924

[3] S. Kakac, et al., (2023), Convective heat transfer with nanofluids: Challenges and opportunities, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 190, 122756. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2022.122756

[4] D.B. Tuckerman, & R.F.W. Pease, (1981). High-performance heat sinking for VLSI. IEEE Electron Device Letters, 2(5), 126–129. https://doi.org/10.1109/EDL.1981.25367

[5] H. Dong, et al., (2024), Advanced thermal management for high-power density LEDs, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 71(5), 5120-5129. https://doi.org/10.1109/TIE.2023.3351234

[6] X. Chen, et al., (2024), State-of-the-art cooling technologies for AI microchips, Applied Thermal Engineering, 236, 121543. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2023.121543

[7] C. Hao, L. Qiang (2018), Thermal design of a novel heat sink cooled by natural convection with phase transition in the series loop, Science China Technological Sciences, 61(11), 1732-1744.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-018-9252-9

[8] E.F. Abbas, A.H. Jassim, T.K. Salem, (2023), Review of the fin optimization in the heat sink design, International Review of Mechanical Engineering, 17(10), 478-494.

https://doi.org/10.15866/ireme.v17i10.23824

[9] M.A. Hussein, V.M. Hameed, H.T. Dhaiban, (2022), An implementation study on a heat sink with different fin configuration under natural convection conditions, Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, 30, 101774. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2022.101774

[10] A.L. Moore, L. Shi, (2014), Emerging challenges and materials for thermal management of electronics, Materials Today, 17(4), 163-174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mattod.2014.04.003

[11] A. Agrawal, H.M. Kushwaha, R.S. Jadhav, (2020), Microscale flow and heat transfer, Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10662-1

[12] A. Bar-Cohen, A.D. Kraus, (1993), Advances in thermal modeling of electronic components and systems, 3, ASME Press.

[13] J. Yang, T. Yu, S. Wei, X. Wang, (2019), Numerical simulation of heat transfer performance of micro-heat pipe array based on FLUENT, IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 295, 032004. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/295/3/032004

[14] O. McCay, R. Nimmagadda, S.M. Ali, T. Persoons, (2023), A parametric design study of natural-convection-cooled heat sinks, Fluids, 8(8), 234. https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids8080234

[15] M. Sadegh, et al., (2023), Heat transfer enhancement in microchannels using nanofluids and innovative fin geometries, International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, 145, 106821. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2023.106821

[16] A. Kumar, et al., (2023), Numerical optimization of micro-fin heat sinks for high-performance computing, Thermal Science and Engineering Progress, 38, 101655. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsep.2023.101655

[17] M. Izadi, et al., (2023), Nanoscale flow and heat transfer characteristics in complex micro-geometries, Journal of Molecular Liquids, 382, 121852. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2023.121852

[18] F.P. Incropera, D.P. DeWitt, Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer, 7th Edition, Wiley, 2011, 100–160.

[19] COMSOL AB (2020), Heat Transfer Module User’s Guide, COMSOL Multiphysics®, 45–110.

[20] R. Taylor, S. Coulombe, (2023), Recent developments in nanofluid-based cooling systems, Journal of Heat Transfer, 145(4), 040801. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4056221

[21] B. Aghel, et al., (2025), Experimental study of hybrid nanofluids in circular finned heat sinks, Powder Technology, 432, 119105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2024.119105

[22] H.A. Nguyen, S. Park. (2023), Enhanced Thermal Conductivity of Nanofins using Carbon Nanotube-Copper Composites for Electronic Cooling, Journal of Nanomaterials and Applications, 10, 115-128. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/5541289

[23] Y.A. Çengel, A.J. Ghajar, (2015), Heat and Mass Transfer: Fundamentals and Applications, 5th Edition, McGraw-Hill Education, New York. ISBN: 978-9814595278.

[24] L. Qiu, et al., (2025), High-thermal-conductivity carbon-based composites for electronic packaging, Carbon, 218, 118712. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2024.118712

[25] D. Liu, et al., (2024), Graphene thermal spreaders for 3D power electronics, Nano Energy, 120, 109123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2023.109123

[26] Z. Han, A. Fina, (2023), Thermal conductivity of carbon-based nanomaterials, Progress in Polymer Science, 136, 101620. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2022.101620

[27] Q.T. Tran, M.K. Le. (2024), Simulation of Heat Transfer in Microchannel Heat Sinks with Nanofluid Flowing through Porous Media, Journal of Nanomaterials and Applications, 11, 42-56. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/6682314

[28] P. Wang, J. Zhang, (2025), Thermal performance of bionic-inspired micro-heat sinks, Journal of Thermal Science, 34, 112-125. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11630-024-1890-y

[29] G. Wang, et al., (2024), CFD analysis of hybrid nanofluids in micro-electronic cooling, Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, 54, 104002. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2024.104002

[30] Y.H. Hussein, A. Akroot, S. Uslu. (2025), Investigating the thermal performance of radial heat sinks with semicircular fins: A CFD and experimental approach, Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 150, 9495-9506. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-025-14369-4

Investigation of Thermal Transport Phenomena in Micro-scale Heat Sinks: Influence of Geometric Architecture and Advanced Material Selection for Nano-electronic Cooling

Downloads

Published

2026-04-18

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding authors upon reasonable request.

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Article, Investigation of Thermal Transport Phenomena in Micro-scale Heat Sinks: Influence of Geometric Architecture and Advanced Material Selection for Nano-electronic Cooling: Investigation of Thermal Transport Phenomena in Micro-scale Heat Sinks: Influence of Geometric Architecture and Advanced Material Selection for Nano-electronic Cooling. (2026). Journal of Nanomaterials and Applications (JNA), 2(2), 38-49. https://doi.org/10.65273/hhit.jna.2026.2.2.036

Most read articles by the same author(s)