Empa - Materials Design & Synthesis

Materials Design & Synthesis

With extensive expertise spanning various material classes, the focus is on designing and understanding innovative nanoscale materials such as nanocrystals, graphene nanoribbons, functionalized polymers, and nanocellulose. Prioritizing scalable and sustainable synthesis, the exploration extends to thin-film and bulk forms of materials like perovskites and MXenes, which hold promise for future applications.

Based on broad competencies across all material classes, Empa puts a strong emphasis on the knowledge of design and the understanding of new materials at the nanoscale. Examples range from nanocrystals to new 1D or 2D materials such as graphene nanoribbons, from functionalized polymers to nanocellulose, from ceramic high entropy alloys to metallic nanoparticles. Materials are studied both in thin-film and bulk forms. Novel materials such as perovskites or MXenes are investigated. The common thread in our activities is on materials where we see the potential for future product applications, and that their synthesis can be scaled up in an economically and ecologically viable way.

Involved Labs

High Performance Ceramics

We design and synthesize novel ceramic materials, composites, and metamaterials to achieve improved structural and functional properties.

Joining Technologies & Corrosion

The lab studies nano-scale out-of-equilibrium effects to develop nano-micro-joining solutions for electronics, hybrid materials, extreme conditions, thermal management, miniaturization, and sustainability.

Advanced Materials Processing

The lab specializes in advanced 2D and 3D manufacturing processes, with research focused on innovative material designs, intelligent manufacturing, and sustainable production methods.

nanotech@surfaces

Innovating atomic-scale materials via molecular design and advanced synthesis techniques for applications in electronics and quantum technologies.

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Mechanics of Materials & Nanostructures

The lab investigates mechanical materials properties from the nano to macro-scale using experimental, analytical, and computational techniques.

Cellulose and Wood Materials

Our lab aims to understand naturally existing structures in wood based resources and tailor interactions between renewable polymers, nanoparticles and colloids.

Computational Engineering

We investigate amorphous materials as efficient adsorption and catalytic substrates using atomistic modeling, molecular dynamics, and machine learning. We focus on exploring their physicochemical heterogeneity to enhance performance for CO₂ adsorption and conversion efficiency.

Building Energy Materials and Components

The lab's mission is to provide new materials solutions on the basis of wet chemical / sol-gel methods and to implement these across the board in the built environment.

Materials for Energy Conversion

The lab strives to solve industry-relevant challenges for sustainable energy conversion and storage technologies through materials and device innovation.