Future heatsink tech inspired by an insects wing

Although the researcher admits it will be a long time before this vapor chamber concept surpasses the performance a simple copper heat spreader... It's a cool idea.

There already is normal vapor chambers, but OK/
@jajone4 the science guy may have thoughts on this that are more in depth not sure though lol

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NHK had a documentary on a whole bunch of new technology that was inspired by insects and nature.

I will try to find it. It was on like last year or early this year.

They dont talk about coolers, so it will be kinda off topic. :stuck_out_tongue:

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This is not a normal vapor chamber. A butchered summary goes like this >

The bottom of the chamber has a super-hydrophobic (water repelling) coating based on a cicada's wings and the top is a sponge-like metal. When micro-drops of water on the bottom combine into a larger drop, energy is released because of a reduction in surface area. The energy + insect coating then makes the hot larger drop 'jump' up to get soaked into the metal sponge on top. Plus it works in any orientation.

I could see this being useful in space. A hollow heatsink could save a few grams and that the heat flow doesn't need gravity to work might be an advantage up there.

This might work but this presentation gives next to no detail whatsoever on what materials they're using. So yeah all I can say based on a 45 second clip is . . . . maybe? The general concept really doesn't seem that useful compared to conventional cooling methods to be honest.

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