American scientists from the University of Chicago and the University of California, San Diego, have discovered a material with unusual physical properties. The study, published in the journal Nature, describes a material that behaves abnormally in a metastable state: it contracts when heated and expands under pressure. This phenomenon, known as negative thermal expansion and negative compressibility, violates classical laws of physics, reports the Baltimore Chronicle, citing journal Nature.
Under the leadership of Professor Shirley Mén, the researchers found that the state of the material can change not only with temperature but also by electric current. This ability opens up the possibility of using the material to restore electric vehicle batteries: after activation, the material returns to its original state, restoring battery capacity.
During experiments, the material showed expansion under pressure typical of geological processes, indicating its potential in creating new structural designs. In the aerospace industry, for example, it could be used in the production of batteries integrated into aircraft structures.
The scientists emphasize that this new material not only challenges fundamental thermodynamic laws but also paves the way for engineering solutions where devices remain stable even under extreme temperature changes.
Earlier we wrote that South Korean scientists have created an “eternal” nuclear battery.