Roberto Aga, Sensors Directorate, AFRL | Microelectronics

Printing silver micropillars for cooling is cool: Thermal management is a very important consideration as microelectronics continue to become highly integrated. This artwork is a magnified optical image of silver micropillars printed directly on the thermal pad of a heat-generating device. The micropillars effectively increase the surface area of the thermal pad that is in direct contact with a phase change material, which serves as the heat absorber. Performing basic research to develop more efficient methods to manage heat in devices is what inspired this artwork. Contributors: Roberto S. Aga, Laura C. Davidson, Emily M. Heckman