MATLAB Simulation to Determine Optimal Design of Thin Films with Embedded Nanoparticles for Optical Heating Applications

Optical heating has numerous applications, such as cold weather clothing, heat generation for homes, and solar thermal generation of electricity. One form of this optical heating technology is the fabrication of poly (methyl methacrylate) polymer thin films with embedded nanoparticles, such as titanium nitride and carbon black. MATLAB was used to simulate samples, in order to determine the optimal configuration for most heat generated. The optimal configuration was carbon black nanoparticles with a radius of 900nm, packed closely together (1800 nm apart), in a medium such as aerogel with low thermal conductivity, with a maximum mass of carbon black and minimal thickness of the sample.