A Computational Study of Metamaterials, Architected Materials and Functional Devices

• Grant number: 24/14403-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: February 29, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Alexandre Fontes da Fonseca
• Grantee: Alexandre Fontes da Fonseca
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin (IFGW). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/06328-5 - Computational Simulations of Polycatenated Metamaterials, BP.IC; 25/06404-3 - Auxetic Nanokirigamis, BP.IC

Abstract

The call for functional materials and sustainable devices has become a long-standing priority on the agendas of many countries around the world. One class of these materials comprises metamaterials and architected or functional materials, which are characterized by having properties and functions planned and programmable. Examples include the development of smart medicines, wearable devices, anti-vibration/earthquake structures, etc. This project proposes a theoretical and computational investigation of three types of systems belonging to this class of materials: polycatenated metamaterials (MM), architected materials (AM), and functional devices (FD). The polycatenated MMs are structures composed of interconnected rings of varying sizes and geometries that exhibit a collective behavior well different from that of the ring material. The AMs comprise auxetic structures and nanoscale versions of the so-called reciprocal structures, which are self-supporting structures well-known in Civil Engineering. Some of them are known to be developed by Leonardo da Vinci. The DFs to be studied here are based on the so-called elastocaloric effect (eC), which refers to the thermal response of a material to mechanical stimuli. The PI was the first to simulate a complete thermodynamic cycle of a nanorefrigerator based on the eC in nanostructures. These systems have in common the fact that they can be studied with the same computational tool in which the PI is an expert. This project has two more goals: firstly, to stablish a new partnership with an esteemed researcher in the field of metamaterials, who was visited by the proponent in 2024 at Caltech, Pasadena, CA, USA, with FAPESP resources; and secondly, to provide the applicant with the necessary resources to continue his other projects, which are pivotal to the advancement of knowledge and innovation. (AU)