Functional Materials Synthesis and Integration Group

Responding to national security needs by accelerating the discovery and manufacturing of new materials and integrating them into functional forms and devices.

Composed of chemists and chemical engineers, the Functional Materials Synthesis and Integration Group synthesizes, processes, and characterizes a variety of materials, including energetic small molecules and polymers and inorganic nano and 2D materials. We also use machine learning and other data-based tools and hardware to develop technologies that can increase our progress and productivity in this material space.

Our work pushes cutting-edge science while also meeting the security challenges of today, enabling adaptation to those of tomorrow.

Energetics synthesis: We develop new energetic materials and devise new synthesis schemes for existing energetics.

Electromagnetic materials: We develop inorganic and nano-based materials for applications across the electromagnetic spectrum, such as radiofrequency and microwave shielding, infrared cameras, opto-electronic devices, and gamma-ray detectors.

Aging and compatibility: We have expertise in understanding how materials age over time and how they work in tandem with other materials in functional systems.

Machine learning: We use chemical information, microscopy images, scientific text, spectra, and other data forms to develop machine learning tools to inform our experimental efforts in developing new small molecules, polymers, and inorganics.

Scale-up, synthesis, and automation: We have developed capabilities for high-throughput synthesis of small molecules and polymers, including flow synthesis and robotics systems for automation.