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Diamond Thermal Conductivity: A New Era in Chip Cooling

(spectrum.ieee.org)
200 points rbanffy | 2 comments | 21 Oct 25 11:16 UTC | HN request time: 0.405s | source
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ZenoArrow ◴[21 Oct 25 16:51 UTC] No.45658076[source]▶
Assuming this becomes easier and cheaper to do as the technique matures, a different use of this could be to help with cooling solar PV cells. Despite it being desirable (in terms of overall energy output) to put solar panels in places where the sun's energy is felt the strongest, solar panels tend to work the most efficiently when they're cool. By making it easier to efficiently cool solar PV cells, it may help provide a small boost in overall solar output.
replies(1): >>45659983 #
FaradayRotation ◴[21 Oct 25 18:51 UTC] No.45659983[source]▶
Putting on my frowny-faced principal engineer hat: we need someone to do the calculation of cost of manufacturing vs the amount of money saved by increasing energy efficiency.
replies(1): >>45661010 #
1. ZenoArrow ◴[21 Oct 25 20:08 UTC] No.45661010[source]▶
Before you put on your frowny-faced principal engineer hat, you should put on your reading glasses. Try reading the first statement I made again...

"Assuming this becomes easier and cheaper to do as the technique matures"

In other words, what I'm suggesting is a potential future use if the cost comes down.

replies(1): >>45661991 #
2. FaradayRotation ◴[21 Oct 25 21:32 UTC] No.45661991[source]▶
Heh, my glasses were actually quite dirty when I wrote that.

More seriously: I did see that, and your idea is interesting! My intent was to communicate the minimum threshold we would need to hit to make that future a reality.