Surface Engineering for Thermal Transport Control: From Enhanced Heat Transfer to Insulation

Engineering the surface of a material can profoundly influence how heat is transferred or retained in a system. By tailoring surface characteristics such as roughness and wettability, engineers can enhance heat transfer coefficients or mitigate thermal losses according to specific needs. For instance, textured or rough surfaces and micro/nano-structuring are known to disturb boundary layers, thereby increasing convective mixing and nucleation for improved heat dissipation. Additionally, changes in surface wettability can alter condensation modes, leading to increase heat transfer efficiency. Conversely, carefully designed coatings and surface treatments, such as thermal barrier coatings, can insulate components, sustaining large temperature differences and protecting underlying materials. This dual capability highlights the importance of surface properties in modern thermal management strategies.

This Research Topic explores surface-driven thermal transport phenomena, focusing on how surface characteristics influence heat conduction, convection, phase-change and radiative heat transfer. The aim is to showcase insights into multi-scale heat transport, from fundamental mechanisms at micro/nanostructured interfaces to overall system performance. This Research Topic will shed light on how engineered surface properties can control thermal transport across scales, inspiring innovative strategies for both augmenting heat dissipation and achieving superior insulation as needed in future technologies. By bringing together this knowledge, this collection will provide a robust understanding that facilitates the predictive design of surfaces aimed at specific thermal outcomes, bridging the gap between theoretical thermal sciences and practical surface engineering.

Studies ranging from fundamental physics and modelling of interfacial heat transfer to applied research on engineered surfaces in real systems are welcome. Both experimental investigations and simulations are encouraged, particularly studies that connect surface microstructure with macro-scale thermal performance. Interdisciplinary approaches are also encouraged.

Areas within the scope of this collection include, but are not limited to:

Thermal Conductance and Insulation
• Surface flatness and roughness control
• Low thermal conductivity coatings
• Thermal barrier coatings
• Reflective and radiative surface treatments

Phase-Change Heat Transfer
• Coating-assisted boiling and condensation
• Surface wettability
• Dropwise vs. filmwise condensation
• Ice-phobic/frost-resistant layers

Convective Heat Transfer
• Surface-channel interaction
• Patterned textures
• Micro-roughness
• Surface protrusions.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: surface engineering, thermal barrier coatings, thermal transport control, enhanced heat transfer, thermal insulation technologies, interfacial thermal transport, phase-change, anti-icing coatings, radiative heat transfer, convective heat transfer

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.