A nanoscale confined fluid structure with nanopatterned
surface
has been investigated by using nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations
and kinetic theory. The negative differential thermal resistance (NDTR)
effect has been observed in such a nanoscale solid–fluid–solid
sandwiched structure, but for high fluid density, the NDTR effect
is weak or even disappears. In the present paper, it is shown that
the NDTR effect can be enhanced or reproduced in the range of ΔT > 150 K roughly by introducing a nanopatterned structure
to the cold surface owing to the enhanced molecule adsorption in the
nanocavities. The findings in the present paper pave the way for the
application of NDTR in the design of a thermal device.