Band Gap Formation Research Articles

Damping Optimization and Energy Absorption of Mechanical Metamaterials for Enhanced Vibration Control Applications: A Critical Review.

Metamaterials are pushing the limits of traditional materials and are fascinating frontiers in scientific innovation. Mechanical metamaterials (MMs) are a category of metamaterials that display properties and performances that cannot be realized in conventional materials. Exploring the mechanical properties and various aspects of vibration and damping control is becoming a crucial research area. Their geometries have intricate features inspired by nature, which make them challenging to model and fabricate. The fabrication of MMs has become possible because of the emergence of additive manufacturing (AM) technology. Mechanical vibrations in engineering applications are common and depend on inertia, stiffness, damping, and external excitation. Vibration and damping control are important aspects of MM in vibrational environments and need to be enhanced and explored. This comprehensive review covers different vibration and damping control aspects of MMs fabricated using polymers and other engineering materials. Different morphological configurations of MMs are critically reviewed, covering crucial vibration aspects, including bandgap formation, energy absorption, and damping control to suppress, attenuate, isolate, and absorb vibrations. Bandgap formation using different MM configurations is presented and reviewed. Furthermore, studies on the energy dissipation and absorption of MMs are briefly discussed. In addition, the vibration damping of various lattice structures is reviewed along with their analytical modeling and experimental measurements. Finally, possible research gaps are highlighted, and a general systematic procedure to address these areas is suggested for future research. This review paper may lay a foundation for young researchers intending to start and pursue research on additive-manufactured MM lattice structures for vibration control applications.

Effect of resonator location and boundary conditions on bandgap formation in a locally resonant beam metastructure

This study investigates how resonator placement and boundary conditions influence bandgap formation in a locally resonant beam metastructure. The steady-state response of the structure, subjected to a concentrated harmonic load, is then computed using the modal analysis. Four different boundary conditions are considered. For each boundary condition, the resonator array is shifted, and the corresponding responses are calculated. The study reveals that, for a cantilever beam, the widest bandgap occurs when the last resonator in the periodic array is positioned at the free end. For the other cases, no significant change in bandgaps is observed.

Efficient hole extraction by doped-polyaniline/graphene oxide in lead-free perovskite solar cell: a computational study

Abstract The intriguing behavior of doped polyanilinine/graphene oxide (PANI/GO) offers a solution to the pivotal problem of device stability against moisture in perovskite solar cell (PSC). Tunable bandgap formation of doped PANI/GO with an absorber layer allows effective flexibility for charge carrier conduction and reduced series resistance further boosting the cell performance. Herein, the L9 Orthogonal Array (OA) Taguchi-based grey relational analysis (GRA) optimization was introduced to intensify the key output responses. Furthermore, this work also delved into incorporating a Pb-free absorber perovskite layer, formamidinium tin triiodide (FASnI3), and concomitantly eluding the environmentally hazardous substance. The numerical optimization supported by statistical analysis is based on experimental data to attain the utmost peak cell efficiency. Taguchi’s L9 OA-based GRA predictive modeling recorded over one-fold enhancement over experimental results, reaching as high as 20.28% power conversion efficiency (PCE). Despite that, the PCE of the structures is severely affected by interface defects at the electron transport layer/absorber (ETL/Abs) vicinity, which is almost zero at merely 1 × 1014 cm−2, manifesting that control measures need to be taken into account. This work deduces the feasibility of ETL/Abs stack structure in replacing the conventional Pb-based perovskite absorber layer, while maximizing the potential use of doped PANI/GO as a hole transport layer (HTL).

Singular topological edge states in locally resonant metamaterials.

Band topology has emerged as a novel tool for material design across various domains, including photonic and phononic systems, and metamaterials. A prominent model for band topology is the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) chain, which reveals topological in-gap states within Bragg-type gaps (BG) formed by periodic modification. Apart from classical BGs, another mechanism for bandgap formation in metamaterials involves strong coupling between local resonances and propagating waves, resulting in a local resonance-induced bandgap (LRG). Previous studies have shown the challenge of topological edge state emergence within the LRG. Here, we reveal that topological edge states can emerge within an LRG by achieving both topological phase and bandgap transitions simultaneously. We describe this using a model of inversion-symmetric extended SSH chains for locally resonant metamaterials. Notably, this topological state can lead to highly localized modes, comparable to a subwavelength unit cell, when it emerges within the LRG. We experimentally demonstrate distinct differences in topologically protected modes-highlighted by wave localization-between the BG and the LRG using locally resonant granule-based metamaterials. Our findings suggest the scope of topological metamaterials may be extended via their bandgap nature.

Mechanisms of bandgap formation in 2D single-phase phononic crystals with 4-fold rotational symmetry

Mechanisms of bandgap formation in 2D single-phase phononic crystals with 4-fold rotational symmetry

Regulable energy valves for energy harvesting by screw-nut structures

Abstract Piezoelectric energy harvesting (EH) is very important for environment protection. Here we developed a novel regulable phononic crystals (PnCs) featuring screw-nut structures as an energy valve for energy harvesting in wave transmission environment. It is fabricated by additive manufacturing for experimental tests. By regulating the nut of the designed PnCs, the peak output voltage and output electric power of the EH system can be varied in the range of 0.066 to 2.15 times and 0.004 to 4.63 times, respectively, compared to the unregulated PnCs. The output performance of the EH system increases as the screw-nut structure is screwed out by guiding the wave transmission, localizing more energy at the defect. The output performance of the EH system significant decrease due to the regulated nut near the defect disrupts the periodicity of the PnCs, preventing the formation of band gap and defect band. Experimental results corroborate the numerical simulations, validating the feasibility of employing screw-nut structures to manipulate output performance. This study offers a regulable solution for adaptive EH systems being capable of responding to varying environmental conditions and energy demands, and provides valuable insights for the design of self-powered devices.

Study on band-gap characteristics and formation mechanism of four-ligament chiral elastic metamaterials

Abstract Chiral elastic metamaterials, owing to their exceptional properties distinct from conventional materials and their superior mechanical performance, exhibit significant potential for applications in vibration reduction, noise suppression, energy absorption, and cushioning. To address the challenge of low-frequency vibration control, this paper proposes a dual-component chiral elastic metamaterial structure with four ligament elements. The study explores the bandgap characteristics and elastic wave propagation behavior of this structure within the 1000 Hz frequency range. By analyzing the vibration modes of the unit cell and calculating the group and phase velocities of elastic waves, the physical mechanism underlying bandgap formation is elucidated. The results demonstrate that the proposed four-ligament chiral elastic metamaterial exhibits excellent bandgap properties, with the bandgap covering more than 80.4% of the frequency range below 1000 Hz. This highlights its capability for low-frequency elastic wave control and offers a theoretical reference for the design of novel vibration reduction and noise suppression structures, as well as for low-frequency elastic wave regulation.

The use of geometrical nonlinear local resonators to enhance the vibration control performance of metamaterial structures

Abstract Metamaterials has become an exciting solution for structural noise and vibration reduction in many engineering applications. Acoustic metamaterials are structures built using repetitive assemblies of identical elements to explore either Bragg-scattering or localized resonance to control mechanical waves. They present frequency bands in which waves do not freely propagate, named bandgaps, allowing acoustic and vibration attenuation at one or multiple targeted frequency ranges. If properly designed and implemented, the inclusion of a nonlinear stiffness can result in resonance frequency shifts that broaden the attenuation frequency band. This work investigates the influence of an array of lightweight nonlinear local resonators (NLR) realized via additive manufacturing on the low-frequency bandgap formation of a metamaterial beam. The NLR uses the high-static-low-dynamic stiffness (HSLDS) concept, which introduces geometric nonlinearity. The proposed model is validated through simulation and experimental analysis. The NLR results in a broadened and shifted attenuation band to lower frequencies without the necessity of adding extra mass to the resonator. This investigation contributes to understanding improvements provided by nonlinear elements for vibration control in metastructures.

Design of novel Z-scheme Ce2(WO4)3 heterostructure using tubular g-C3N4 for boosted photocatalytic performance via effective electron transfer pathway

Herein, we report a novel Z-scheme heterostructure catalyst based on tubular shaped graphitic carbon nitride with cerium tungstate catalysts synthesized by ultrasonic-assisted thermal impregnation route. The physicochemical, morphological and optical features of the materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–vis diffuse reflectance (UV–vis DRS), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and N2-adsorption-desorption measurements. The results demonstrated that the Ce2(WO4)3/g-C3N4 hybrid catalyst achieved superior photocatalytic activity although they had poor performance individually. The kinetic rate constant of the hybrid sample was calculated as 0.0134 min-1 which was 3.4 times higher than the pristine Ce2(WO4)3 for the degradation of tetracycline antibiotic under visible light irradiation. The improved catalytic activity was assigned to higher surface area, narrower band gap energy and formation of Z-scheme heterojunction mechanism between Ce2(WO4)3 and g-C3N4 according to band structure analysis. This research demonstrated the potential utilization and modification of Ce2(WO4)3 as a new metal tungstate in the photocatalytic remediation of different types of pollutants.

Bragg resonances in left-handed bigyrotropic media based on periodic ferromagnetic semiconductor

In this work, a theoretical model for a periodic bigyrotropic left-handed medium, which is a ferromagnetic semiconductor, is developed. The presence of periodicity in such a structure leads to the formation of Bragg band gaps in the spectrum of propagating waves, both in the microwave and terahertz ranges. Band gaps in the microwave range are formed in the frequency region with double negative effective parameters of the medium. The band gaps density decreases with increasing frequency in the microwave range and increases in the terahertz range.

Investigating the photocatalytic efficacy of a porous cuprous gallate (CuGa2O4) thick film

Abstract The study aimed to investigate the photocatalytic activity of porous copper gallate (CuGa2O4) thick film with significant wall dimensions. The thick film was meticulously fabricated using tape casting systems, with CuGa2O4 nanoparticles synthesized by Sol–Gel technique and subsequently transformed into gels for the tape casting process. Rietveld refinements were employed to elucidate the crystal structure and lattice parameters of the CuGa2O4 spinel oxide lattice. Moreover, electronic energy configurations and optical transmittance measurements were acquired through UV-visible spectrophotometry. The correlations between the crystal structure, band gap change and formation of electronic energy levels in relation to the photocatalytic performance of CuGa2O4 were explored. The comprehensive examination provides valuable insights into the complex interaction between material properties and photocatalytic behavior, offering a nuanced understanding of the potential applications of porous CuGa2O4 thick films in various technological fields.

Structural defect regulation in corundum-type medium-entropy oxides for enhanced infrared emissivity performance at high temperature

With the increasing demand in industry and hypersonic vehicles, advanced materials with high-performance infrared radiation need to be developed. Herein, two corundum-type medium-entropy oxide ceramics M3 (Al1/3Cr1/3Fe1/3)2O3 and M4 (Al0.25Cr0.25Fe0.25Ga0.25)2O3 were prepared by solid-state reaction method at different temperatures. Their chemical structure and infrared emissivity performance were analyzed through systematic experiments and theoretical analysis. Compared to the M3, M4 prepared at 1773 K possessed more preeminent emissivity performance, exhibiting emissivity values of 0.917, 0.912 and 0.90 in the wavelength of 0.2–0.78 μm, 0.78–2.50 μm and 2.5–14 μm, respectively. Meanwhile, the infrared emissivity of M4 still could exceed 0.85 at 800 °C in the wavelength of 1.5–25 μm, displaying excellent emissivity and stability under high temperature. As a consequence of lower bandgap and defects formation energy, more oxygen vacancy defects were generated in M4, resulting in better infrared emissivity performance. The results demonstrates that M4 as coating has great potential to be applied in energy-related and thermal protection of hypersonic vehicles.

Bandgap formation mechanism in tacticity inspired elastic mechanical metastructures

Tacticity is long known as a significant contributor in changing the chemical and mechanical properties of the polymers drastically. This study explores mechanism of bandgap formation in elastic mechanical metastructures designed with a focus on tacticity. We introduce metabeams, comprising a primary slender beam embedded with short secondary beams featuring end masses at their tips. The investigation delves into the numerically simulated vibration characteristics of metabeams using finite element analysis, with a subsequent comparison to experimental results for fabricated metabeams. Employing a unit-cell design approach that manipulates spatial and physical parameters, we explore a wide range of uniform and non-uniform metabeam configurations based on the distance between secondary beams and distribution of local resonators as per tacticity. Hence, drawing inspiration from tacticity, we extend our investigation to isotactic and syndiotactic metabeams, altering physical parameters (mass) within the unit cell for both configurations. The strategic distribution of end masses on attached secondary beams introduces unique characteristics to isotactic and syndiotactic metabeams, allowing for the modulation of bandgaps without altering the natural frequencies of the resonators in symmetric and anti-symmetric metabeam designs. Our research demonstrates, incorporating tacticity in metabeam design offers a novel and unconventional approach to modulate the bandgap formation mechanism.

Composite metastructure with tunable ultra-wide low-frequency three-dimensional band gaps for vibration and noise control

Low-frequency vibration and noise control present enduring engineering challenges that garner extensive research attention. Despite numerous active and passive control solutions, achieving multiple ultra-wide attenuation regions remains elusive. Addressing vibration and noise control across a multidirectional broad low-frequency spectrum, three-dimensional metastructures have emerged as innovative solutions. This study introduces a novel three-dimensional composite metastructure featuring multiple ultra-wide three-dimensional complete band gaps. The research emphasizes the design strategy of elastic ligaments to achieve multiple ultra-wide attenuation regions spanning from 0.7 to 40 kHz. The band structures are elucidated through modal analysis and further substantiated by an analytical model based on a spring-mass chain with an additional resonator. The underlying physical mechanism for the formation of multiple ultra-wide band gaps is revealed through novel vibration modes from finite element analyses. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the distribution and the relative width of the ultra-wide band gaps can be tuned by modifying the geometric parameters of the metastructure. Utilizing additive manufacturing, prototypes are fabricated, and low-amplitude vibration tests are conducted to evaluate real-time vibration attenuation properties. Consistency is observed among theoretical, numerical, and experimental results. The proposed structure shows significant potential for high-performance meta-devices aimed at controlling noise and vibration across an extremely wide low-frequency spectrum.

Indirect-to-direct bandgap transition in GaP semiconductors through quantum shell formation on ZnS nanocrystals

Although GaP, a III-V compound semiconductor, has been extensively utilized in the optoelectronic industry for decades as a traditional material, the inherent indirect bandgap nature of GaP limits its efficiency. Here, we demonstrate an indirect-to-direct bandgap transition of GaP through the formation of quantum shells on the surface of ZnS nanocrystals. The ZnS/GaP quantum shell with a reverse-type I heterojunction, consisting of a monolayer-thin GaP shell grown atop a ZnS core, exhibits a record-high photoluminescence quantum yield of 45.4% in the violet emission range (wavelength = 409 nm), validating its direct bandgap nature. Density functional theory calculations further reveal that ZnS nanocrystals, as the growth platform for GaP quantum shells, play a crucial role in the direct bandgap formation through hybridization of electronic states with GaP. These findings suggest potential for achieving direct bandgaps in compounds that are constrained by their inherent indirect energy gaps, offering a strategy for tailoring energy structures to significantly improve efficiencies in optoelectronics and photovoltaics.

Stealthy and hyperuniform isotropic photonic band gap structure in 3D.

In photonic crystals, the propagation of light is governed by their photonic band structure, an ensemble of propagating states grouped into bands, separated by photonic band gaps. Due to discrete symmetries in spatially strictly periodic dielectric structures their photonic band structure is intrinsically anisotropic. However, for many applications, such as manufacturing artificial structural color materials or developing photonic computing devices, but also for the fundamental understanding of light-matter interactions, it is of major interest to seek materials with long range nonperiodic dielectric structures which allow the formation of isotropic photonic band gaps. Here, we report the first ever 3D isotropic photonic band gap for an optimized disordered stealthy hyperuniform structure for microwaves. The transmission spectra are directly compared to a diamond pattern and an amorphous structure with similar node density. The band structure is measured experimentally for all three microwave structures, manufactured by 3D laser printing for metamaterials with refractive index up to . Results agree well with finite-difference-time-domain numerical investigations and a priori calculations of the band gap for the hyperuniform structure: the diamond structure shows gaps but being anisotropic as expected, the stealthy hyperuniform pattern shows an isotropic gap of very similar magnitude, while the amorphous structure does not show a gap at all. Since they are more easily manufactured, prototyping centimeter scaled microwave structures may help optimizing structures in the technologically very interesting region of infrared.

Theoretical investigation on vibration reduction characteristics of a novel foundation metaconcrete beam

The issue of low-frequency vibration problems in foundation beams is becoming increasingly serious. Therefore, it is imperative to find new methods for effectively reducing and controlling these low-frequency vibrations. This study proposes a novel foundation metaconcrete beam to address the challenge of low-frequency vibrations based on locally resonance theory. Additionally, an improved transfer matrix method (ITMM) is proposed to quickly and effectively calculate the bandgap of foundation metaconcrete beam. The validity of the ITMM is verified through the plane wave expansion method (PWEM), and transmission characteristics are fully analyzed using the spectral element method (SEM). Furthermore, the influences of geometric and material parameters of the foundation metaconcrete beam on band structures and transmission functions are investigated in detail. The results show that the proposed foundation metaconcrete beam exhibits multiple bandgaps, and can effectively attenuate low-frequency vibrations. These bandgaps can be tailored by appropriately adjusting relevant parameters. The foundation properties determine the formation of the first bandgap, the damping ratio of the resonator has double effects on band structures, the mass ratio of the resonator is crucial in adjusting these bandgaps, and the axial force can adjust the attenuation capability of the first bandgap.

Competent visible light driven photocatalytic removal of gaseous styrene over TiO2/g-C3N4: Characterization, parameters, kinetics, mechanism

BackgroundRemoval of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including styrene, via photocatalytic oxidation is preferable. The photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4 and TiO2 are limited by its fast recombination rate and wide band gap, respectively. MethodThis study examined improvement in photocatalytic degradation of styrene using g-C3N4 after doping with various proportions of TiO2. The best photocatalyst were also tested under various conditions (retention time, relative humidity, styrene concentration, and temperature) prior to study of reaction kinetics. Significant findings20 wt% TiO2/g-C3N4 presented the best styrene conversion and supported by characterization result. Formation of narrow band gap reached to 2.68 eV enhanced the performance of doped g-C3N4. Langmuir Hinshelwood model 4 presented a well fitted result with the experimental data.

Investigation of the electronic properties of a topological semimetal LaAuPb under uniaxial strain and hydrostatic pressure: A DFT approach

In this study, we utilized first-principles calculations to investigate the structural, electronic, mechanical, and vibrational properties of the topological semimetal LaAuPb. Our research delves into how uniaxial strain and hydrostatic pressure influence the electronic band structure of LaAuPb. We discovered that LaAuPb exhibits ductile behavior and maintains dynamic stability under various conditions. Upon introducing compressive strains of −6%, we observed a significant separation of degenerate states at the gamma point, which consequently led to the formation of a band gap. Similarly, the application of hydrostatic pressure at 16 GPa also resulted in the creation of a band gap by altering the electronic band structure. These findings suggest that both compressive strain and hydrostatic pressure can be effective in modulating the electronic properties of LaAuPb, potentially making it useful for applications requiring tunable electronic behavior. Conversely, when subject to tensile strain, no band gap formation was observed. Instead, there was a notable gradual overlap between the valence and conduction bands, indicating that tensile strain does not induce the same electronic separations as compressive strain or hydrostatic pressure. This asymmetrical response to different types of strain underscores the complex nature of LaAuPb's electronic properties and provides valuable insights for its potential use in electronic and mechanical applications. Overall, our findings contribute to the understanding of how external mechanical forces can be harnessed to control the electronic properties of topological semimetals like LaAuPb.

Ultra-wide band gap and wave attenuation mechanism of a novel star-shaped chiral metamaterial

A novel hollow star-shaped chiral metamaterial (SCM) is proposed by incorporating chiral structural properties into the standard hollow star-shaped metamaterial, exhibiting a wide band gap over 1 500 Hz. To broaden the band gap, solid single-phase and two-phase SCMs are designed and simulated, which produce two ultra-wide band gaps (approximately 5 116 Hz and 6 027 Hz, respectively). The main reason for the formation of the ultra-wide band gap is that the rotational vibration of the concave star of two novel SCMs drains the energy of an elastic wave. The impacts of the concave angle of a single-phase SCM and the resonator radius of a two-phase SCM on the band gaps are studied. Decreasing the concave angle leads to an increase in the width of the widest band gap, and the width of the widest band gap increases as the resonator radius of the two-phase SCM increases. Additionally, the study on elastic wave propagation characteristics involves analyzing frequency dispersion surfaces, wave propagation directions, group velocities, and phase velocities. Ultimately, the analysis focuses on the transmission properties of finite periodic structures. The solid single-phase SCM achieves a maximum vibration attenuation over 800, while the width of the band gap is smaller than that of the two-phase SCM. Both metamaterials exhibit high vibration attenuation capabilities, which can be used in wideband vibration reduction to satisfy the requirement of ultra-wide frequencies.