INTELLECTUAL NEIGHBORHOOD

Advanced Manufacturing and Materials

Advanced Manufacturing and Materials

The Advanced Manufacturing and Materials neighborhood is home to experts in composite materials, 3D printing methods and software, process intensification and deployment, biopharmaceutical manufacturing, biomaterials, and quantum materials. We’re advancing basic and applied research of advanced materials and manufacturing processes for use in a wide range of applications, from consumer product development to national defense.

NEWS

EXPERT SPOTLIGHTS

Tingyi Gu

Gu, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, studies phase transfer materials, which absorb or release heat as they transition from solid to liquid and back, at the atomic level. The optical properties of these materials make them useful for a variety of applications, such as recording information in computers and a variety of other electronic devices. She was recently selected for the Army Research Office Young Investigator Program.

Terry Papoutsakis

Elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2018, Papoutsakis, Unidel Eugene Du Pont Chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, was selected for translational biotechnology contributions that have profoundly impacted sustainable manufacturing and human health. An expert in such areas as the engineering of synthetic microbes that can produce liquid fuels and widely used chemicals, he holds 16 issued or pending patents, many of which are currently in the commercialization pipeline.

Kun Fu

Kelvin (Kun) Fu, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering, studies additive manufacturing and processing of materials, structures, and devices across multiple length scales for applications in energy, environment, and health. He has developed novel methods of 3D printing composite materials and designed new ultra-thick electrodes that could increase the energy density of batteries.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

TuFF Material

Researchers at UD’s Center for Composite Materials have created the world’s strongest short fiber composite material that can be stamped into complex shapes, just like sheet metal can be stamped, in less than one minute.

KEY RESEARCH CENTERS AND INSTITUTES

Center for Composite Materials

The Center for Composite Materials (CCM) is an internationally recognized, interdisciplinary center of excellence for composites research and education. Website

Center for Plastics Innovation

An Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Center for Plastics Innovation develops catalytic and functionalization approaches and fundamental tools applicable to the upcycling of polymer plastics waste, with a strategic focus on enabling mixed-stream transformations from varied material form factors. Website

UD Center for Hybrid, Active and Responsive Materials

Funded by the NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers, the UD Center for Hybrid, Active and Responsive Materials (UD CHARM) is creating a world-recognized hub of interdisciplinary integration and infrastructure development to drive cross-cutting materials innovation. Website

NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR INNOVATION IN BIOPHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURING (NIIMBL)

The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) is a public-private partnership dedicated to advancing biopharmaceutical manufacturing innovation and workforce development. NIIMBL is one of 14 institutes in the Manufacturing USA network. Each institute focuses on a different technology, but share one common goal — to drive U.S. leadership in advanced manufacturing. Website

Delaware Energy Institute

The Delaware Energy Institute is marshalling science, engineering, industry, and public policy expertise in new and emerging energy technologies. Website

CENTER FOR BIOMANUFACTURING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The Center for Biomanufacturing Science and Technology brings together faculty at the University of Delaware that tackle a wide array of problems and fundamental challenges in areas ranging from: cell culture processes and bioreactors; high-end and scalable purification processes; product formulation and stability; drug delivery; manufacturing; and analytical technologies, instrumentation, and algorithms to support all of these areas. The Center supports cutting edge research facilities on campus, educational activities including seminars, workshops, and short courses, as well as industrial research consortia. Website

CENTER FOR NEUTRON SCIENCE

The Center for Neutron Science at the University of Delaware is a cooperative agreement between the (UD) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) to explore and develop new areas of neutron scattering science, with emphasis on strengths in complex fluids, macromolecular science, and condensed matter physics. Website

UD Nanofabrication Facility

The UD Nanofabrication Facility (UDNF) enables researchers from academia, industry and government to create devices smaller than a human hair, supporting scientific advances in fields ranging from medical diagnostics to environmental sensing to solar energy harvesting. Website

Institute of Energy Conversion

The Institute of Energy Conversion develops the fundamental science and engineering base required to improve photovoltaic device performance and processing technologies, and effectively transfer these laboratory results to large-scale manufacturing. Website

Materials Growth Facility

The University of Delaware (UD) Materials Growth Facility (MGF) offers III-V and topological insulator (TI) growth of epitaxial semiconductor films. These growths are performed on a dual-chamber GENxplor molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) system. Our staff offers full-service material calibration and growth, as well as training to perform MBE deposition. Website