Materials Discovery

New materials can address global safety challenges

Materials discovery has long played an essential role in technological progress — driving the development of innovations ranging from bronze plowshares to modern lithium-ion batteries. 

Today, the Materials Discovery Research Institute works to develop and deploy new materials with the potential to address current global safety challenges. We harness the power of advanced computing and high-throughput experimental methods to create innovative materials for renewable energy and eco-remediation, while also paying careful attention to potential implications for human health. 


Intelligent material design for a sustainable future

The technological marvels of the silicon age fostered an era of notable progress. Yet, technology also may introduce unintended consequences that pose safety risks to humanity and our planet. 

The Materials Discovery lab aims to discover and characterize materials that address those safety risks. Among our top priorities is research into materials capable of carbon capture and energy storage, with an eye toward reducing the adverse impacts of humanity’s reliance on fossil fuels and enabling a transition to renewable energy sources. Our research builds on our commitment to a safer future. 

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Automating to accelerate discovery

Leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning, our approach aims to bring the materials discovery process into the 21st century.  

We are establishing computational chemistry capabilities that will work in tandem with our experimental capabilities to refine and enhance our discovery process. We have invested in automated instrumentation to enable high-throughput experimental techniques capable of rapidly analyzing and synthesizing new material designs, improving both the accuracy and reproducibility of our research while greatly accelerating the pace of discovery. 

The knowledge we produce will help support the safe and equitable use of novel materials throughout the world. 

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