Where Macro Physics meets Nano: Effect of Geometry on Thermodynamics and Optics

In the physical world, patterns of different sizes and forms are ubiquitous, from the nanoworld to the macroworld and, ultimately, gigantic like galaxies and the universe itself. At the atomic level, various geometric forms, such as the angles between atomic bonds and the spatial distribution of electronic density, fix the system's configuration and, therefore, its reactivity. On a larger scale, the helical spirals of DNA, the lattice patterns of crystals and supramolecular assemblies, the shapes of cells, and various assemblies of cells within tissues are examples of the most common patterns exhibited by nature. Nanostructured materials possess properties that depend on size and shape, distinctly differing from their bulk counterparts. These nanopatterns and morphologies influence biological organisms' thermal and optical management, which is essential for life. This management is often interwoven with the size and geometry of patterns. Elucidating its properties and occurrence is of high importance for understanding our world. In this study, we reveal, on a phenomenological level, the effect of the nanoscale patterns on thermal management. Besides the fundamental importance of exposing the structural constraints that are responsible for unusual thermodynamic response, the presented study offers the concept of shaping heat capacity on command by controlling the geometry without changing the system's chemistry.