{"id":1743,"date":"2025-10-07T18:37:51","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T22:37:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/mae\/?p=1743"},"modified":"2025-10-09T10:22:01","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T14:22:01","slug":"research-uses-machine-learning-identify-thermal-switch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/mae\/news\/research-uses-machine-learning-identify-thermal-switch\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Uses Machine Learning to Identify \u2018Thermal Switch\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Imagine being able to program materials to control heat like you can control a light with a dimmer switch. By simply squeezing or stretching the materials, you can make them hotter or colder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the fundamental challenges in advanced materials has been accurately predicting and controlling heat flow in complex, next-generation materials. Traditional simulation methods, which rely on simplified empirical models, fail to capture a material\u2019s intricate atomic interactions, especially under deformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New research by Xiangyu Li<\/a>, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and his PhD student, Shaodong Zhang, helps alleviate that problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Li and Zhang used a machine learning assisted neuroevolution potential (NEP) to train computational models on how atoms interact with each other at the sub-nanometer scale. For highly porous materials like graphene foam, this technique helps predict thermal and mechanical properties by simulating atomic movements and interactions. The technique allows researchers to model how these materials behave under different conditions, such as compression, and understand how their structure changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Shaodong<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Li and Zhang\u2019s research, which was sponsored by the AI Tennessee Initiative, was recently published in the International Journal of Thermal Sciences and npj Computational Materials<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis research demonstrates that by combining the nanomaterial graphene foam with a common silicon polymer we can create a composite that is not only tougher but also possesses a remarkable ability to regulate its heat flow when deformed,\u201d Zhang said. \u201cThis paves the way for intelligent materials that can self-adjust their thermal properties, leading to safer, more energy-efficient electronics, advanced wearable devices, and smarter thermal management systems in everything from laptops to spacecraft.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

More Efficient Experiments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The results from Li and Zhang\u2019s research showed that both the thermal conductivity and thermal conductance of graphene foam increase with the increase of density at room temperature. However, the thermal conductivity experiences a downward trend followed by a subsequent upward trajectory in the compression process. The outcomes suggest that the weakening of thermal conductivity in the initial state can be attributed to the thickness reduction resulting from material compression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis provides a scientific blueprint for designing \u2018thermal switches,\u2019 where a material’s ability to conduct heat can be turned up or down on demand,\u201d Zhang said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Shaodong<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Given the challenges of measuring and manufacturing next-generation materials, Li said having a machine-learning tool to understand how the molecular structure of different combinations can help guide the development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe goal is to reduce the amount of experimental efforts, and we can provide a rough estimation of the outcome,\u201d Li said. \u201cIdeally, we hope to predict all material properties without prior knowledge, which demands years of efforts and refinement of tools. The goal is to help materials development, and make system and device designs much more streamlined, so you spend less money and time in repetitive trials and errors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Next-Gen Frontier<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The breakthrough research by Li and Zhang opens the door for large-scale molecular dynamics simulations that are highly efficient and precise, bridging a key gap between atomic-scale accuracy and practical material design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Future applications stemming from their research could include developing intelligent thermal switches for next-generation electronics; advancing flexible and wearable technology, which could lead to wearable sensors that adapt to body temperature or clothing that actively manages heat for comfort; and accelerating material discovery for water vaper adsorption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt’s still further away from real applications,\u201d Li said. \u201cBut for example, it can be used with batteries, where you have to let it work within a narrow temperature range. We also hope to leverage the machine learning based molecular dynamics in other physical and chemical processes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Contact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Rhiannon Potkey (rpotkey@utk.edu<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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