Influence of the composition gradient on the propagation of heat pulses in functionally graded nanomaterials.

A theoretical model to describe heat transport in functionally graded nanomaterials is developed in the framework of extended thermodynamics. The heat-transport equation used in our theoretical model is of the Maxwell-Cattaneo type. We study the propagation of acceleration waves in functionally graded materials (FGMs). In the special case of functionally graded Si1-c Ge c thin layers, we point out the influence of the composition gradient on the propagation of heat pulses. A possible use of heat pulses as exploring tool to infer the inner composition of FGMs is suggested.