Next-Generation Materials
Developing materials to redefine what’s possible
APL is dedicated to advancing next-generation materials for critical national security applications, such as hypersonic flight, space-based missions, and naval ship construction. We discover and develop innovative and mission-specific materials, thoroughly characterizing their properties and creating advanced screening capabilities to understand how they perform in extreme environments.
Contributing Mission Areas
Featured Work
Accelerating Materials Innovation for Defense
Developing a novel materials science paradigm—and strategically applying artificial intelligence and robotics—to dramatically accelerate the process of designing, testing, and optimizing metal components for the defense industrial base
Enhancing Naval Readiness with Onboard 3D Printing Solutions
APL and the U.S. Navy have collaborated to implement onboard 3D printing systems, enabling ships to produce essential parts at sea, thereby enhancing operational readiness and reducing maintenance delays.
Shape-Shifting Antenna for Adaptive Communications
By leveraging cutting-edge additive manufacturing techniques and shape memory alloys, APL researchers have created an antenna that can change its shape based on its temperature.
Advanced Thermoelectric Materials for Next-Gen Refrigeration
Researchers at APL have developed nano-engineered thin-film thermoelectric devices that are two times as efficient as currently used bulk devices in refrigeration. This advancement paves the way for compact, scalable, and compressor-free cooling.
Reversing the Loss of Coral Reefs
Recognizing the need to safeguard America’s coastlines and the value natural structures play in their protection, APL researchers are finding ways to use materials science to support coral reef growth and restoration.
Developing Battery- and Solar-Powered Fibers
APL researchers have established new, scalable methods of developing battery- and solar-powered fibers, making it theoretically possible for electrical energy to be harvested from, and stored in, the clothing people wear.
Revolutionizing Materials Discovery for National Security
APL is reimagining and accelerating the targeted discovery of materials tailored to withstand and perform in the most demanding conditions, ensuring enhanced capabilities in extreme environments.
Creating Coatings for Extreme Environments
The leading edges of hypersonics vehicles—as well as fins, control surfaces, and apertures—need to be protected against speeds exceeding Mach 5, temperatures well above 1,000 degrees Celsius, oxidation from the atmosphere, and tremendous aerodynamic shear loads. Custom materials can enable mission success in these extreme environments.
Advancing Materials for Thermal Management
Researchers at APL have made a significant breakthrough in the development of advanced materials technology that can efficiently manage thermal conditions, particularly in buildings and data centers.
Eliminating Forever Chemicals
Multiple studies have linked PFAS exposure to harmful health effects in humans and animals, and without a natural way to break them down, the chemicals persist in soil and contaminate the environment — including water. APL scientists are developing several technologies to capture and destroy these “forever chemicals.”
Featured Program
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.
Featured Publications
Journals and Conference Proceedings
Research from APL experts is published in a number of peer-reviewed journals and in conference proceedings.
Explore recent publications from materials researchers at APL.
Related News
News
Mar 9, 2026
‘ATLAS’ System Lifts Johns Hopkins APL Leadership in Automated Experimentation
An interdisciplinary APL team created ATLAS, an artificial intelligence co-investigator that automates testing, learning, and synthesis for microcapsules, which has decreased human labor required per experiment by more than 80% and advances APL progress in microcapsule development and automated experimentation.
News
Mar 4, 2026
Simulating the Seas to Make Additive Manufacturing Fleet-Ready
Johns Hopkins APL and GKN Aerospace are partnering to develop a system that simulates shipboard motion for metal 3D printing at sea — advancing the Navy’s ability to produce critical parts on demand. Building on APL’s success aboard the USS Bataan, this effort aims to enable motion-aware manufacturing of mission-essential components in dynamic maritime environments.
News
Mar 2, 2026
Researchers Engineer Cold-Tolerant Proteins to Give U.S. an Arctic Edge
Researchers at Johns Hopkins APL, inspired by biomolecules found in cold-tolerant organisms, are developing novel materials that can control ice formation. Their breakthroughs could lead to new technologies for the U.S. military, from advanced materials for construction to medical treatments that can prevent frostbite and preserve sensitive biological samples.
News
Sep 17, 2025
An Accelerated Paradigm for Developing Mission-Critical Materials
Scientists and engineers at Johns Hopkins APL are applying artificial intelligence and robotics to dramatically accelerate the process of designing, testing and optimizing metallic components for the defense industrial base.
Press Release
Aug 21, 2025
Johns Hopkins APL’s Next-Generation Solid-State Refrigeration Technology Wins 2025 R&D 100 Award
APL researchers won a 2025 R&D 100 award for their nano-engineered materials called CHESS that significantly improve the efficiency of thermoelectric cooling devices. Their breakthrough nearly doubles the performance of traditional materials at room temperature, opening the way to much better cooling systems and energy-saving technologies.