Advanced Manufacturing

Revolutionizing manufacturing with cutting-edge materials.

Breakthroughs in 3D printing, polymerization processing, ceramic synthesis and semiconductor development are reshaping manufacturing processes. Our research teams are enhancing the strength, reliability and sustainability of essential materials for applications in construction, energy systems and high-performance electronics.

Areas of Manufacturing Innovation:

Additive Manufacturing Technologies: Expanding 3D metallic printing for enhanced quality and performance in construction and automotive applications.
Next-Generation Semiconductors: Developing semiconductors with 500x greater charge mobility than traditional silicon, revolutionizing LCD displays and electronics.
Sustainable Polymer Processing: Streamlining polymer fabrication to reduce costs, improve efficiency and meet sustainability goals.
Low-Thermal-Budget Synthesis: Pioneering unconventional ceramic sintering routes with in-situ property monitoring, enabling more sustainable bulk energy storage materials production.
Customized Thin-Film Fabrication: Advancing electrochemical and vapor-phase deposition techniques, creating advanced thin-film solid-state battery components and hierarchical nanostructures for energy applications.

FEATURED RESEARCH:

Space Manufacturing Initiatives

Department Head Nancy Sottos is bringing her composite materials expertise to Mission Illinois, a historic space manufacturing initiative. She is helping develop cutting-edge processes for constructing large-scale structures aboard the International Space Station in 2026.

"Our deep understanding of composite materials behavior on Earth provides the foundation for this ambitious leap into space manufacturing. The challenge of adapting these materials for microgravity conditions could unlock unprecedented possibilities for large-scale space structures."

– Department Head and Swanlund Endowed Chair Nancy Sottos

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