Effect of liquid layering at the liquid–solid interface on thermal transport

Using non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations in which a temperature gradient is imposed, we study how the ordering of the liquid at the liquid–solid interface affects the interfacial thermal resistance. Our simulations of a simple monoatomic liquid show no effect on the thermal transport either normal to the surface or parallel to the surface. Even for of a liquid that is highly confined between two solids, we find no effect on thermal conductivity. This contrasts with well-known significant effect of confinement on the viscoelastic response. Our findings suggest that the experimentally observed large enhancement of thermal conductivity in suspensions of solid nanosized particles (nanofluids) can not be explained by altered thermal transport properties of the layered liquid.