Defense Department Invests $1.5M in Projects Investigating Advanced Materials
The U.S. Department of Defense invested over $1.5 million in research initiatives to study advanced precursor materials, addressing stimuli-controlled molecular electronics and high temperature ceramics. Professor Shenqiang Ren in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering will lead two research efforts: the first one involving a new type of material to advance electronics, and the second one to advance materials for extreme environments. Ren’s first initiative will explore “stimuli-controlled molecular crystals,” a novel class of materials grown from solution-based ingredients that are also responsive to external stimuli, such as light photons. His method aims to enable the manufacture of light-controlled components for integrated systems. In line with his goal of transforming conventional molecular crystal manufacturing, Ren’s second project will focus on developing a new processing method for ceramics used in extreme environments. Currently, the ceramic processing involves high temperatures that melt ceramic powders into a homogeneous mixture, consuming large amounts of energy. In contrast, Ren’s approach involves growing a molecular precursor in a wet lab, requiring minimal heat to shape it into its final form, with the added potential to introduce new functionalities.
March 26, 2025 Prev Next |
