EXplOiting THermal PhEnomena in 2D MateRials for breakthrough heat Management device capabilities – EXOTHERM

The exponential growth of data-intensive applications such as artificial intelligence (AI), combined with continued miniaturization in nanoelectronics, has led to an urgent need for advanced thermal management technologies. Self-heating effects, caused by the thermalization of hot carriers in high electric field regions, now severely limit the performance and lifespan of semiconductor devices. Current cooling methods—based on air or liquid systems—are increasingly inadequate, consuming massive amounts of energy and water, especially in hyperscale data centers whose environmental footprint is rapidly growing. Addressing this thermal crisis requires a paradigm shift in heat extraction and regulation technologies at the nanoscale.
EXOTHERM aims to uncover novel thermal transport phenomena in two-dimensional (2D) materials and to develop unprecedented solutions for heat management in nanoelectronics. The project focuses on graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), which offer complementary advantages: graphene exhibits ultra-high thermal conductivity and supports hydrodynamic phonon transport for directional heat conduction, while TMDs offer tunable phonon and electron properties through gating and stacking in van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures. Their combination forms a multifunctional platform for both passive heat spreading and active thermal control.
The project is structured into three innovative work packages (WP):

- WP1: Harness phonon hydrodynamics in graphene to build thermal-functional devices capable of collective phonon flow and anisotropic heat conduction.
- WP2: Enable dynamic control of TMD thermal properties via electrostatic gating control. This includes tuning phonon scattering by modulating carrier density, modifying interlayer coupling in vdW stacks, and engineering phonon confinement effects.
- WP3: Develop a hybrid cooling device integrating graphene’s efficient heat extraction with thermionic emission and tunable phonon-electron interactions in TMDs. A four-terminal device concept will be explored to achieve fine thermal regulation through dual gating and current control.
EXOTHERM targets the realization of a new class of nanoscale thermal devices that not only mitigate self-heating in advanced electronics but also open pathways for dynamically tunable thermoelectric systems. By advancing fundamental knowledge and demonstrating scalable, high-performance thermal management devices, EXOTHERM will contribute to lowering the energy and environmental cost of future nanoelectronic systems—helping to reconcile computing performance with sustainability.