Research and Exploratory Development

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An APL researcher conducts an experiment with a cuttable battery

Signature, Electromagnetics, and Energy Research

Our team develops novel capabilities and solves critical challenges in a wide range of scientific fields to include electromagnetics, emerging research, energy, and signature science.

Assistant Program Manager: Konstantinos Gerasopoulos
Acting Assistant Program Manager: David Shrekenhamer

Focus Areas

Signature Science
Developing advanced materials and modeling techniques

We leverage our advanced materials solutions and cutting-edge modeling and simulation tools to better predict, characterize, and optimize signatures for sponsor-defined applications.

Electromagnetics
Manipulating and leveraging the electromagnetic spectrum to counter directed energy weapons and enable secure communications

We not only create novel material coatings and electromagnetic structures to counter directed energy weapons but also develop phase-change materials for communications/radar in harsh environments and miniaturized detector systems.

Energy
Transforming, controlling, and harnessing energy for safer, more efficient energy storage and delivery

Our innovative flexible, indestructible, and safe batteries are used for a variety of national security applications. Our capabilities and expertise in applied thin-film thermoelectric materials and devices provide a trusted, unique resource for the nation to enable game-changing advances in compact thermal management and thermal energy harvesting. We also develop portable power sources for expeditionary missions using advanced thermoelectric technology and commonly available heat sources, such as our Operational Lightweight Intelligent Thermo Electric (OLITE) portable power source.

Emerging Research
Researching the next innovation to solve future critical challenges

We are researching the next innovation to solve the future critical challenges to our nation. Our team is researching a wide variety of topics, such as MEMS fuze fabrication processes, printing rigid-flex circuits, and morphological instability of nanostructured fuel cell catalysts.

Research Highlights

  • Image of battery

    Press Release

    Johns Hopkins APL Research Team Tackles Electrode in Quest for Safer Batteries

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    A team of APL researchers has developed a scalable process for producing a safe, high-energy-density battery anode — another landmark achievement in the Laboratory’s quest to create effective, durable lithium-ion batteries. Read full article >>

  • Press Release

    Johns Hopkins APL Researchers Win 2019 R&D 100 Award for Breakthrough Lithium-Ion Battery Technology

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    APL’s breakthrough lithium-ion battery technology has been recognized with a 2019 R&D 100 Award, celebrating industry-changing products and technologies. Read full article >>

  • Press Release

    Johns Hopkins APL’s Breakthrough Flexible, Cuttable Lithium-Ion Battery Now Won’t Catch Fire

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    The flexible lithium-ion battery that can operate under extreme conditions — including cutting, submersion and simulated ballistic impact — now adds incombustible to its resume. Read full article >>

  • Press Release

    Breakthrough Cuttable, Flexible, Submersible and Ballistic-Tested Lithium-ion Battery Offers New Paradigm of Safety and Performance

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    A team of scientists at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, has partnered with researchers from the University of Maryland (UMD) and the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) to develop a new type of flexible lithium-ion battery that can operate under extreme conditions, including cutting, submersion and ballistic impact. The team recently published their discovery in the journal Advanced Materials. Read full article >>

  • Press Release

    JHU Partners With Morgan State On Center To Develop Ultrathin 2d Materials

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    Using a five-year, $7.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, Johns Hopkins and Morgan State University are creating the Center for Advanced Electro-Photonics with 2D Materials, a first-of-its-kind initiative with a dual mission: to develop two-dimensional materials for use by DoD, and to expand and diversify the technology and defense-sector talent pipelines by training students from underrepresented minority groups. Read full article >>

Explained: How IIT Research May Improve Lithium-Ion Battery Performance (The Indian Express, April 10, 2020)

Scientists Made a Nearly Invincible Lithium-Ion Battery (Wired, January 10, 2020)

Gel Polymer Electrolyte Cuts Risk of Battery Fires (Chemistry World, November 11, 2019)

This Lithium-Ion Battery Won’t Catch Fire (Futurity, October 21, 2019)

Scientists Develop Safer, More Durable Lithium-Ion Battery That Can Operate Under Extreme Conditions (Tech Xplore, November 16, 2017)

APL Celebrates 80 Years of

Game-Changing Impact

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80th anniversary