Engineering a Lattice with Negative Thermal Expansion Properties
In a breakthrough study, scientists from the University of Pennsylvania have developed a new material that exhibits negative thermal expansion. This material, a lattice built from two different types of nanoparticles, is the first of its kind and could have a wide range of applications in the future.
This lattice, which has a honeycomb structure, is made from two types of nanoparticles—a larger particle and a smaller particle. The smaller particle is filled with a liquid that expands when heated, while the larger particle remains solid. By carefully controlling the ratio of the two particles, the researchers were able to create a lattice that, when heated, contracts instead of expanding. This is the first time a material with negative thermal expansion has been created.
The implications of this discovery are far-reaching. Negative thermal expansion could be used to create materials that are more stable in the face of changing temperatures, thus creating more reliable components for the electronics industry. Additionally, the lattice structure could be used to create materials that are more resistant to wear and tear. The possibilities are truly exciting!
source: Phys.org