Heat conduction in one-dimensional (1D) nonlinear lattices is investigated to evaluate the performance of defective low dimensional materials as thermal rectifiers. The thermal rectifier allows heat to conduct only in a single direction and not in the opposite direction even when the temperature gradient is reversed. If such thermal device is realized, a variety of innovations should occur in thermal engineering. Our simulation treats twosegmental system of different spring constants to simulate the asymmetric distribution of lattice defects. It is found that the thermal rectification depends on spring constant, mean temperature and temperature gradient. The performance limit of thermal rectification of defectinduced materials is also discussed.
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