Materials Science Division

Applied and Emerging Materials Group

Addressing critical materials challenges with expertise in materials science, electrochemistry, physics, inorganic chemistry, polymer chemistry, chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, nanomaterials, batteries, and aerogels.

Our group researches the synthesis, processing, and characterization of materials with novel properties. For example, we develop:

  • Multifunctional materials
  • Functional materials that are compatible with various additive manufacturing (3D printing) techniques
  • Aerogels with novel composition and density combinations
  • Tailored materials for battery applications

These projects support applications critical to the national interest, including energy security, defense, and addressing critical materials challenges. Our team also supports the Laboratory for Energy Applications for the Future.

Our mission: Perform leading-edge materials science and chemistry research to fill knowledge gaps and deliver technology products that serve crucial national needs.

Our vision: Maintain and expand an adaptive, state-of-the-art arsenal of materials research and expertise that integrates LLNL’s advanced synthesis, characterization, manufacturing, and high-performance computing capabilities to create the materials and technologies needed to address a variety of national concerns.

We address our mission space through capabilities in:

  • Advanced synthesis and characterization of polymers, nanoparticles, composites, aerogels, and other porous materials
  • Electrochemical testing in controlled environments, including extreme conditions
  • Materials processing in controlled environments, including extreme conditions
  • Development of feedstocks for additive manufacturing
  • Integration with high-performance computer simulations and design optimization
  • Novel processing of battery materials and pouch cell assembly/testing
Graphene oxide component with an inset showing a 1 millimeter inset.

In the news

Our research areas

Additive manufacturing: We develop materials for different additive manufacturing techniques, primarily polymers, polymer composites, ceramics, and carbon fiber reinforcement composites.

Materials characterization: We have capabilities in nanomaterials synthesis and broad materials characterization.

Energy storage: We develop advanced processing methods for next-generation battery materials and characterize their performance in coin cells and pouch cells.

Materials processing: Our ovens and dryers enable supercritical drying and high-temperature testing and processing of materials at up to 3000°C.

Swetha Chandrasekaran watches as a component is 3D printed.

Our team

Leadership

Worsley, Marcus A.
Chandrasekaran, Swetha
Wood, Marissa

Group members

Carleton, Adam Jacob
Adam Carleton
Deshpande, Nirmit Amol
Nirmit Deshpande
Freyman, Megan Carey
Hall, Ashley LaDonna
Ashley Hall
Hensleigh, Ryan Michael
Orhan, Asya
Asya Orhan
Reale Batista, Mariana Desiree
Troksa, Alyssa Lanae
Yassa, Magi
Ye, Jianchao

Our publications