Science of Extreme and Multifunctional Materials
Our team utilizes advanced chemistry, materials science, and computational tools across a variety of areas, inventing the future of research in extreme materials, materials characterization, materials design, synthesis and manufacturing, and multifunctional materials.
Program Manager: Morgan Trexler
Assistant Program Manager: Leslie Hamilton
Focus Areas
Hypersonics
Creating new materials with extreme survivability, evaluating performance in relevant environments, and linking materials to operational improvements
Deployable Manufacturing
Inventing new alloys, understanding new formation mechanisms, creating unique structures, and enabling new capabilities on-demand
Space Applications
Creating new materials and manufacturing processes to enable new space-based missions
Warfighter Protection
Inventing new materials to enable protection of deployed forces and understanding protection mechanisms
Expeditionary Technologies
Developing materials with novel capabilities and field-forward utility for warfighters on the battlefield and at sea
Clean Water
Enabling clean water, on-demand, everywhere
AI-Enabled Materials Discovery
Revolutionizing materials discovery by employing artificial intelligence, paired with high throughput synthesis and characterization
Advanced Coatings
Developing coatings with integrated, novel capabilities for the warfighter, the planet, and beyond
Upcoming Events
Location: Building 201 (11091 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, Maryland 20723)
Accelerating Materials Discovery for National Security Symposium → September 5, 2024 // 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
APL will be hosting the Accelerating Materials Discovery for National Security Symposium on September 5, 2024, with the goal of bringing together government, leading materials experts and researchers, and innovators from a range of disciplines. These subject-matter experts will delve into identifying challenges and solutions addressing the pressing needs of extreme environments, such as space exploration, deep-sea exploration, hypersonic flight, resource-constrained scenarios, and harsh industrial applications. This event is only open to U.S. citizens. Registration opens in May.
Research Highlights
Journal Articles and Conference/Workshop Proceedings
Our research is published in a number of peer-reviewed journals and in conference and workshop proceedings. View recent publications.
In the News
- How to Protect Yourself From ‘Forever Chemicals’ (The Hill, March 14, 2024)
- Eliminating ‘Forever Chemicals’ from the World’s Water (SXSW, March 12, 2024)
- Biodegradable Sensors Could Explore the Seas More Sustainably (Eos, October 26, 2023)
- Are “Forever Chemicals” Really Forever? (WYPR, July 11, 2023)
- Paintable Proteins Provide Environmentally Friendly Way to Protect Ship Hulls at Sea (Corrosion Protection, June 29, 2023)
- Johns Hopkins APL Scientists Test Better Ways to Remove ‘Forever Chemicals’ From Homes and Water (The Baltimore Banner, June 19, 2023)
- A Jellyfish-Inspired Ocean Sensor (Johns Hopkins Magazine, June 2023)
- Can We Destroy "Forever Chemicals"? Plasma or Nanoparticles Could Do the Trick (Inverse, March 20, 2023)
- NASA Awards Advance 3D Printing, Quantum Tech for Climate Research (NASA, March 16, 2023)
- Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon to Co-Lead New NASA Institute (The Hub, March 16, 2023)
- Filtering & Destroying 'Forever Chemicals': JHU Team Hopes to Ensure Clean Drinking Water (Fox 45 News, November 22, 2022)
- Exploring the Advantages of Defects in Laser-Manufactured Materials (Phys.org, July 26, 2021)
- “Hopkins APL is a standout partner [for DARPA] in being able to connect materials developments with platform performance” said William (Bill) Carter, DARPA Program Manager (Voices from DARPA Podcast, Episode 36, December 1, 2020)
- Microcapsule Additive Allows Underwater Glues to Set in One Minute (New Atlas, April 19, 2021)
- Applied Physics Lab Researchers Develop Advanced Soft Robots (JHU Hub, January 22, 2021)
- DSS Works with Top Laboratory to Protect U.S. Embassies and Consulates (US Department of State, September 2, 2020)
- Michael Brupbacher’s Article Selected as an Editor’s Pick in Applied Optics (Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, September 21, 2017)
- New Generation of Glass Coatings (Coatings World, October 20, 2015)
- Sturdy Silica Coatings Take Tough Stance Against Corrosion (Chemical & Engineering News, August 24, 2015)
- New Super-Reflective Paint Is the Solution to Your Car’s Scorching Summertime Temperatures (Popular Mechanics, August 19, 2015)
- Self-Healing Paint, Chemical Weapons At Home (Chemical & Engineering News, July 14, 2014)